183 WORLD-CLASS SAX PLAYER GREG OSBY HEADLINES JAZZ ARTIST SERIES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 9, 2007
CONTACT: Tim Musselman, 615-898-2493

WORLD-CLASS SAX PLAYER GREG OSBY HEADLINES JAZZ ARTIST SERIES
Guest Artist Will Also Serves 4-Day Residency at MTSU, Perform with Music Faculty

(MURFREESBORO)—The 2007-2008 MTSU Jazz Artist Series will get the first of two 2007 concerts under way at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, with world-class saxophonist Greg Osby, who will perform in the T. Earl Hinton Hall of the Wright Music Building (WMB) on the MTSU campus.
Don Aliquo, coordinator of jazz studies at MTSU, said Osby also will take up residence at MTSU on Nov. 12 -16, where he will oversee workshops for students, from improvisation and jazz history to composition and more. During the four-day visit, he will work closely with student ensembles in addition to his two concert performances.
"(Osby) is truly one the most original and cutting-edge voices in jazz today,” Aliquo said. “We are very excited about his willingness to spend the entire week sharing his vast knowledge and creative approach to the art form with the MTSU community.”
During the Nov. 15 Jazz Artist Series concert, Osby will perform his original compositions alongside members of the MTSU jazz faculty, including Aliquo (saxophone), Jamey Simmons (trumpet), Jim Ferguson (bass), Pat Coil (piano) and Tom Giampietro (drums).
In addition, Osby will perform in a free and open second concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, with various student ensembles, including the MTSU Graduate Studies Combo.
“This is truly a unique opportunity for our students and showcases our entire jazz department.” Aliquo said.
Osby is well known throughout the international contemporary jazz community as an innovative saxophonist, composer, producer and educator. He has recorded more than 15 albums as a leader and enjoyed important artistic associations with some the music’s most innovative musicians, including Andrew Hill, Jack DeJohnette, Steve Coleman, Jim Hall, and Jason Moran.
The Osby residency events, all of which are open to the public, will begin Monday, Nov. 12, with a jazz seminar/master class from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in Room 173 of the WMB; a jazz improvisation seminar 4:30-6 p.m. in the Saunders Fine Arts Building’s (SFA) Room 101; and a jazz combo coaching at 7:15 p.m. in SFA Room 101.
On Tuesday, Nov. 13, Osby will present a jazz history lecture from 1 to 2:25 p.m. in SFA’s Room 208. On Wednesday, Nov. 14, the public is invited to the jazz pedagogy seminar from 10:20 to 11:15 a.m. in Room 208 of SFA; a jazz seminar/master class 3-4:30 p.m. in the WMB’s Room 173; and a jazz arranging/composition workshop from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in SFA’s Room 308.
Thursday, Nov. 15, Osby will offer jazz combo coaching at 4:20 pm in SFA’s Room 101 before performing in the Jazz Artist Series concert at 7:30 p.m.
•TICKETS: Jazz Artist Series tickets, $15 per person and free for MTSU students, faculty and staff, will be available at the door. For more information regarding Osby’s workshops, please call 615-904-0821. For more information on other events in the music school at MTSU, please call 615-898-2493 or visit http://www.mtsumusic.com/.




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