Southeastern to host Bill Evans Jazz Festival

 

Tuesday, April 2, 2019 Pete Rodriguez
by: Tonya Lowentritt 

TRUMPETER RODRIGUEZ TO HIGHLIGHT BILL EVANS JAZZ FESTIVALPremier trumpeter Pete Rodriguez will be a featured performer at Southeastern Louisiana University’s annual Bill Evans Jazz Festival to be held on Southeastern’s campus April 10-13. Information is available by calling 985-549-2184.


     HAMMOND – In honor of one of its most notable alumni, the Southeastern Louisiana University Department of Music and Performing Arts will present the annual Bill Evans Jazz Festival April 10-13.
     The festival will feature performances by the University Jazz Lab Band and University Jazz Ensemble, masterclasses and additional ticketed performances, as well as an exhibit on Bill Evans. Artifacts having belonged to Evans will be on display in the Southeastern Contemporary Art Gallery throughout the duration of the festival. Photographs, album covers and letters written by Evans will be exhibited to showcase the jazz legends’ achievements and his history with Southeastern.
     Sponsored by Lafargue Pianos Ltd. of Metairie, North Oaks Health System, Tangi Meats, Tipton Associates of Baton Rouge, and the Rotary Club of Hammond, the festival will feature guest artist Pete Rodriguez, a highly respected trumpeter and educator.
     “As the son of renowned salsero Pete ‘El Conde’ Rodriguez, our guest artist cut his teeth backing up some of the greatest names in Latin music, including Celia Cruz, Eddie Palmieri, Chico O’Farrill, and Bebo Valdez,” said Director of Jazz and Percussion Studies and one of the festival’s coordinators Michael Bothers. “While in his teens, he focused on classical music, performing trumpet with the Symphony of Puerto Rico at the young age of 15. While in the U.S. Army, he discovered his love for jazz and made it the focus of his professional and educational pursuits after leaving the military, working with such artists as Toshiko Akiyoshi, Kenny Barron and Kenny Garrett.”
     The festival will also include the Louisiana Association for Jazz Education State Music Festival, a competition with performances by area middle and high school jazz ensembles. The festival will start Friday morning at 9:45 a.m. and conclude Saturday at 5:15 p.m. in Pottle Music Building Auditorium.
     The performance schedule includes the following:
     • April 10, 7:30 p.m., Pottle Recital Hall, Alumni Jazz Ensemble Concert, tickets are $5 students and $10 adults, current Southeastern students, faculty and staff are admitted free with university ID
     • April 11, 7:30 p.m., Pottle Recital Hall, University Jazz Lab Band, free concert
     • April 12, 1 p.m., Pottle Recital Hall, free masterclass with Rodriguez and at 7:30 p.m., Pottle Recital Hall, Jazz Faculty Trio Concert with guest artist Rodriguez and special guests Zakk Garner and Brad Walker, tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults, current Southeastern students, faculty and staff are admitted free with university ID 
     • April 13, 1 p.m., Pottle Recital Hall, free masterclass with Rodriguez and at 7:30 p.m., Pottle Recital Hall, University Jazz Ensemble in concert with Rodriguez, free concert.
     For additional information, call the Department of Music and Performing Arts at 985-549-2184.




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