Sway Along to Music at the Eighth Annual SUU Jazz Concert
Published: March 28, 2017 | Author: Ashley Pollock | Read Time: 2 minutes
The annual SUU Jazz Concert featuring guest artists Reggie Thomas, Jeff Campbell and Dennis Mackrel will be held on Saturday, April 8, 2017, at 7:30 p.m. in the Heritage Center Theater. Tickets will be $10 for adults and $5 for students and children. Southern Utah University faculty, staff, and students are free with a valid ID card. Faculty and staff IDs are allowed one guest. They can be purchased at the door the night of the show or online at www.suu.edu/pva.
Dr. Thomas Herb, Director of Jazz Band, said, “This concert is our 8th Annual Guest Artist Jazz Concert. The concert is always a favorite because our students get to interact one on one with high level jazz players, both socially and in performance. This year we are bringing out an entire rhythm section, headed by pianist Reggie Thomas and including Jeff Campbell (bass player) and Dennis Mackrel (drums). All three are outstanding jazz musicians who lead jazz programs at their respective schools.”
After almost 20 years as professor of music at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and three years at Michigan State University as Professor of Jazz Piano, Reggie Thomas is now leading the Northern Illinois University School of Music’s Jazz Studies Program. He is also a consultant/clinician for Jazz at Lincoln Center working with the Essentially Ellington Program and Band Director Academy and has served on several summer jazz faculties across the country. He remains an active clinician/adjudicator at colleges throughout the world.
Jeff Campbell excels in his career as a jazz and classical bass player. He maintains an active schedule performing with Marian McPartland, Gene Bertoncini, Rich Perry, Trio East, Harold Jones, and the Eastman Jazz Quartet featuring Harold Danko, and has appeared with McPartland’s Piano Jazz program on National Public Radio. Campbell is in high demand across the globe. He currently teaches at the Eastman School of Music.
Dennis Mackrel is currently a professor at Queens College in Flushing, NY and a member of the jazz faculty at the Birch Creek Summer Jazz Camp in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin and the Skidmore Jazz Institute in Saratoga Springs, NY. Mackrel is an outstanding musician as well as a composer and arranger. His professional experience began at age 10 and his collaborative efforts are filled with many jazz greats such as Tony Bennett, Monty Alexander, and Hank Jones.
Students take special care and pride in their work with professionals in the field that they are studying. Trevor Walker, graduate student in Music Education and current high school teacher in Parowan, Utah, said, “The guest artists that are coming in are some of the best at their respective instruments. We don't have a lot of musicians like that come to Cedar City.”
Sway along with the crowd at the 8th Annual SUU Jazz Concert featuring Reggie Thomas, Jeff Campbell, and Dennis Mackrel. For more information on the Department of Music at SUU, please visit www.suu.edu/pva/music.
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