Jazz Series Wraps Up with Bassoonist Paul Hanson
Published: 2007-04-04
TAHLEQUAH - Northeastern State Universitys Green Country Jazz Series will culminate with the appearance of jazz bassoonist Paul Hanson in concert with the NSU Jazz Ensemble. The concert takes place on Thursday April 12, at 8 p.m. in the NSU Jazz Lab.
Hanson is widely considered as a true innovator on the bassoon, rewriting the rulebook and setting new standards for what is possible on a traditionally coded classical music instrument. From his roots as an award-winning classical bassoonist and jazz saxophonist, Hanson has sought to expand the lexicon of the bassoon while creating a unique musical voice.
He has recorded or performed on bassoon with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Wayne Shorter, Medeski Martin & Wood, Bob Weirs RATDOG, Peter Erskine, Billy Childs, Billy Higgins, Ray Charles, Charlie Hunter, and on saxophone with Eddie Money, Boz Scaggs, and the Temptations. Recently, Hanson was the featured improviser on a Brazilian tour of Cirque du Soleli, performing on bassoon, saxophone, and keyboards, and performed nationally on a PBS special with one of his numerous projects, a Jewish-inspired musical collective called DAVKA.
Paul has been referred to as the best kept secret in jazz, playing on perhaps the most awkward of instruments, said Arthur White, NSU director of Jazz Studies. Yet he performs the most mind-boggling solos and is truly one of the great improvisers of this era.
Hanson will perform with the NSU Jazz Ensemble. This ensemble was awarded unanimous superior ratings and numerous outstanding musicianship awards at the 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001 Wichita Jazz Festivals in Wichita, Kansas. Recently, Jazz Ensemble I performed with internationally renowned jazz artists Joe Lovano, Jimmy Cobb, Bob Mintzer, Mulgrew Miller, Marvin Stamm, Slide Hampton, Byron Stripling, Bobby Shew, Kevin Mahogany, Henry Johnson, Scott Wendholt and Bobby Watson.
The group is celebrating the release of their newest CD, the critically acclaimed Appointment In Milano, with guest Bobby Watson on saxophone.
The NSU Jazz Studies Program is thrilled to close out the GCJS with Paul Hanson. His musicianship is truly rare and needs to be seen to be believed. said White.
The concert is sponsored by Dominos Pizza of Tahlequah, Wal-Mart Supercenter of Tahlequah, and is supported through a grant from the Oklahoma Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Call the NSU Jazz Lab at 918-444-4603 to reserve tickets for the evening concert. For additional information, contact Arthur White, NSU Director of Jazz Studies at 918-444-4602 or whitea@nsuok.edu.