NSU presents Charlie McPherson: Green Country Jazz Festival

(Tahlequah, Oklahoma) -- Northeastern State Universitys Sequoyah Institute and the NSU Jazz Studies Program present Charles McPherson in concert as the culmination of 50th annual Green Country Jazz Festival. The performance will be at 7:30 p.m. on March 6 at the NSU Center for the Performing Arts.

McPherson, who is one of the last living bebop saxophone legends, started playing jazz professionally at the age of 19. He was recently featured at the Lincoln Center showcasing his original compositions and arrangements with a seven-piece ensemble. He has toured the United States, Europe, Japan, Africa and South America with his own group as well as with jazz greats Barry Harris, Billy Eckstine, Phil Woods, Wynton Marsalis, Dizzy Gillespie and others. McPherson remains a strong, viable force on the jazz scene today.

NSU Director of Jazz Studies, Dr. Clark Gibson, said McPherson will join the NSU Jazz Ensemble for a historic performance to celebrate the Universitys 50th annual Green Country Jazz Festival.

At the concert, we will be honoring Dr. Lowell Lehman who started this historic festival in 1967, Gibson said. We will also be honoring the late Joe Davis. Mr. Davis was instrumental in creating the jazz studies degree program and housing that program at the NSU Jazz Lab, 'Joe's Place.'"

The festival allows high school jazz bands to visit NSU to attend workshops and clinics and to compete for the top jazz band, which is announced and awarded at the evening performance. Judges for the festival, members of the SSG Trio, are performing in concert with Charles McPherson as well as holding a Judges Jam session at 8 p.m. on March 5 at the Jazz Lab. Tickets to the Judges Jam are $5.

Tickets for the both can be bought by phone at 918-458-2075 or in person weekdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Sequoyah Institute Box Office located at 529 Seminary Ave. Tickets will also be available at the performance Box Office beginning one hour before show times.

The Charles McPherson performance is a collaborative effort between the Sequoyah Institute and the NSU Jazz Studies program. The performance is partially funded by a grant from the Oklahoma Arts Council. The Sequoyah Institute can be reached by phone at 918-458-2075.