Green Country Jazz Festival to feature trombonist

Office of Communications & Marketing |Northeastern State University
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. -- Renowned trombonist Wycliffe Gordon will join NSU for its 46th annual Green Country Jazz Festival March 3-4.

The 9th annual Judges Jam is first on the agenda, beginning Sunday, March 3, at 8 p.m. in the Jazz Lab at 315 N. Muskogee Ave. in Tahlequah. Admission is $5.

At the Judges Jam, Gordon will perform with an all-star jazz combo featuring Robert Larson of Virginia, James Greeson of Arkansas, Jared Johnson and Mikel Combs, both of Oklahoma, and Dr. Tommy Poole, director of NSU jazz studies.

The Green Country Jazz Festival continues with an evening concert Monday, March 4, at 7 p.m. at the NSU Center for the Performing Arts at 605 N. Grand Ave. in Tahlequah. The NSU Jazz Ensemble will feature Gordon on the trombone. Admission to the concert is $6 for NSU students with ID and $12 for the general public.

Gordon tours the world performing hard-swinging, straight-ahead jazz for audiences ranging from heads of state to elementary school students, said Poole. He was the recipient of the Jazz Journalists Association Award, Trombonist of the Year, for 2011, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2002 and 2001.

Gordon discovered the trombone at age 12 and developed a passion for jazz at age 13. He has since become a leading composer, performer, writer and instructor.

Gordons repertoire includes 15 solo CDs, seven co-leader CDs and multiple TV, radio and film performances. He has been commissioned for several compositions, including I Saw the Light, a tribute to Muhammed Ali, and Beyond the Blackberry Patch, a story about the city of Columbus, Ohio.

The Green CountryJazzSeries is presented with help from the National Endowmentofthe Arts and the Oklahoma Arts Council.

For more information or reservations, call Poole at 918-444-4602