Southeastern Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Lab Band to present final concert of the semester
Tuesday, November 12, 2019 
by: Tonya Lowentritt
WILLIAMS TO PERFORM WITH UNIVERSITY JAZZ ENSEMBLE - Louisiana native and trumpeter Mike Williams will perform with Southeastern Louisiana University’s Jazz Ensemble in the final concert of the fall semester Nov. 20. Scheduled at 7:30 p.m. in the Pottle Music Building Recital Hall, the concert is free.
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University’s Department of Music and Performing
Arts, along with the Lyceum Arts and Lectures Committee, will present the University
Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Lab Band final concert of the fall 2019 semester on Wednesday,
Nov. 20. Scheduled at 7:30 p.m. in the Pottle Music Building Recital Hall, the concert
is free.
The University Jazz Lab Band program, under the direction of Lecturer of Double
Bass John Madere, will include “Footprints” by Wayne Shorter, arranged by Tyler Pertuit,
and “I Mean You” by Thelonious Monk, arranged by Jeremy Stringer.
The University Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Instructor of Percussion
and Director of Jazz Studies Michael Brothers, will include “Inabanaga” by Paul White,
“Begin the Beguine” by Cole Porter, arranged by Bill Holman, “The Spirit of St. Frederick”
by Nick Lane, “Georgia on My Mind” by Stuart Gorrell and Hoagy Carmichael, arranged
by Tommy Newsom, and “MacArthur Park” by Jimmy Webb, arranged by Adrian Drover.
Joining the Jazz Ensemble will be guest artist and Louisiana native trumpeter
Mike Williams. Playing trumpet since the age of 13, Williams received a bachelor of
music education degree from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches. In 1983,
he moved to Denton, Tex., and attended the University of North Texas, playing lead
trumpet in the One O’Clock Lab Band directed by Neil Slater.
After three years at UNT, Williams traveled with the Glenn Miller Orchestra until
he received a call from the Count Basie Orchestra, asking him to join the band as
the lead trumpet. In September of 1987, he joined the band and performed with them
for the next 31 years.
As a member of the orchestra, Williams was part of a Columbia Artists tour with
both Dizzy Gillespie and Billy Eckstein and recorded over 20 CD’s, three of which
were Grammy winners. He has performed in all 50 states and over 45 countries and has
played for the King of Thailand, Presidential inaugurations, and in jazz festivals
in several countries. He has also been broadcast in numerous live television and radio
shows across the world.
For more information, contact the Department of Music and Performing Arts at
985-549-2184.
