Get ready for two nights of Jazz at NSU– March 6, 7
Published: 2016-03-02
(Tahlequah, Okla.)-- The 49th Annual Green Country Jazz Festival returns this year on March 7at Northeastern State University Center for the Performing Arts, with special guest performer and world-renowned trombonist, Michael Dease.
Dease was a self-taught trombonist by age 17 and was invited to join the inaugural class of the Juilliard School jazz studies program, where he went on to win several awards including the Frank Rosolino Award, J.J. Johnson Award, the Sammy Nestico Jazz Composers Award, ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award and the Fish Middleton Jazz Competition.
He has toured extensively throughout Europe and South America. He has performed at several popular jazz festivals such as Toronto Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival and the Spoleto Music Festival.
The Green Country Jazz Festival began in the 1967 and has since brought internationally renowned jazz artists to the area for four decades. It is one of the countrys longest running jazz festivals, put on by NSUs Department of Music.
Tickets for the Jazz Festival cost $6 for students and $12 for the general public and are available by calling 918-444-4603 or emailing nsujazz@nsuok.edu.
Judges Jam Four musicians, one stage, great cause
On March 6, the 12th Annual Judges Jam also returns with a philanthropic twist. Specially titled Judges Jam for Cats and Dogs, the one-hour jam session is a benefit for the Humane Society of Cherokee County, featuring the judges for the Green Country Jazz Festival and NSU faculty members.
We are giving the opportunity to anyone who wants to donate items for the Humane Society at this concert. We will have an area in the lab where people can drop off dog or cat food, Dr. Clark Gibson, director Jazz Studies at NSU, said.
The judges who will be in competition for this good cause include: Jim Pisano, director jazz studies at Bethel College in Kansas, Jared Johnson, director of jazz drums at NSU, Jordan Hehl, instructor of jazz bass at NSU and Tommy Poole, director jazz studies at Oklahoma State University.
This concert will be held at the NSU Jazz Lab starting at8 p.m., with tickets costing $5. Patrons can call 918-444-4603 to make reservations and cansee acceptable donations.