Cord Martin (left); Illinois Jacquet
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED: The MTSU School of Music will host the sixth annual MTSU Illinois Jacquet Jazz Festival on March 20–21.
Middle and high school jazz ensembles will perform for a panel of jazz educators and adjudicators in a non-competitive format, but with comment sheets and ratings, and some special awards. Judges will select at least one ensemble to perform at the Saturday evening concert.
The event will also include clinics led by MTSU faculty and guests, including Casey Brefka, Mike Parkinson, Brian Mueller, Patrick Atwater, Miguel Alvarado, Desmond Ng, Jamey Simmons and the MTSU faculty rhythm section; an invitational high school honors combo, led by MTSU faculty member Don Aliquo; and a performance featuring the MTSU Salsa Band, directed by Lalo Davila.
The festival will be followed by evening concerts featuring MTSU Jazz Ensemble I, ETHOS Youth Jazz Ensemble, MTSU alumnus saxophonist Cord Martin and award-winning baritone saxophonist Gary Smulyan.
The festival honors the legacy of tenor saxophonist and band leader Illinois Jacquet, who rose to prominence in the 1940s with the big bands of Count Basie and Lionel Hampton.
Jacquet was responsible for two major developments in tenor playing. He popularized the “honking” method of playing, which might best be heard in performances with producer Norman Granz’s Jazz at the Philharmonic tour. Jacquet also discovered the tenor’s high-pitched altissimo range, extending the instrument’s range by two and a half octaves.
In 1942 Jacquet cut the solo on the hit recording of Hampton’s “Flying Home,” which is known as the first recorded R&B sax solo. Jacquet also performed in the band of Cab Calloway and later formed a group with his brother and bassist Charles Mingus.
The Illinois Jacquet Foundation promotes the study and appreciation of jazz music throughout the globe and the organization offers financial assistance to jazz music students through annual sponsorship and grants.
The concert on Friday evening, March 20, at 7:30 p.m. features Cord Martin, and the concert on Saturday evening, March 21, at 7:30 p.m. features Gary Smulyan. Tickets for either show are available for $10.
For more information on the Illinois Jacquet Jazz Festival or on registering an ensemble, visit mtsu.edu/music/jazzfest.php or contact kyle.etges@mtsu.edu or james.simmons@mtsu.edu.
For more information on Illinois Jacquet and the Illinois Jacquet Foundation visit illinoisjacquetfoundation.org.
