ETSU Friends of Music

FRIENDS OF MUSIC EVENTS SINCE 1979

	Celebrating Its 25^th Anniversary 1979-2004
Tri-Cities Jazz Festival 2003 featuring Maynard Ferguson Friday, April 11, East Tennessee State University Saturday, April 12, Meadowview Convention Center, Kingsport

Tri-Cities Jazz Festival features Maynard Ferguson `Friday, March 28, 2003` JOHNSON CITY – Renowned jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson headlines the list of those scheduled to perform in East Tennessee State University's newly revamped Tri-Cites Jazz Festival in April. This two-day event, to be held Friday and Saturday, April 11-12, consists of a non-competitive high school jazz ensemble festival, as well as concerts and clinics by some of the country's leading performers and educators. It is co-sponsored by the ETSU Department of Music and Friends of Music, along with MeadowView Conference Resort and Convention Center, WCYB-TV 5, GMC Rogersville, the Johnson City Press, the Kingsport Times-News and GoTriCities.com. Activities to be held April 11 on the ETSU campus include the high school festival from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., followed by an 8 p.m. *Tri-Cities Jazz Festival Concert* featuring the Science Hill High School Jazz Ensemble and the ETSU Jazz Ensemble, in addition to Jazz Festival clinicians and guest soloists, including Rick Simerly of Milligan College, trombone; Todd Wright of Appalachian State University, saxophone; Dr. Rande Sanderbeck of ETSU, percussion, and Dr. David Champouillon, also of ETSU, trumpet. Admission is $10 for this concert, which will take place in the D.P. Culp University Center's Martha Street Culp Auditorium. *Maynard Ferguson and His Big Bop Nouveau Band* will perform in concert at MeadowView Conference Resort and Convention Center, Kingsport, on April 12 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available through MeadowView at a cost of $30 for reserved seating and $20 for general admission. Concert ticket-holders may attend a special clinic conducted by Ferguson that same day at 4 p.m. at ETSU in Mathes Hall. Ferguson has been called "one of the world's greatest trumpet and brass instrument players" by gr8music.com. "An instrument designer, record producer, composer, educator/clinician, symphonic guest artist and soundtrack artist, this three-time Grammy nominee and consistent . . . jazz poll winner is a diverse and energetic musician whose multifarious talents extend far beyond 'trumpet player.'" The 74-year-old native of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, became involved in music at age four, studied at the French Conservatory of Music, and was opening concerts by such greats as Basie, Ellington, Kenton, the Dorsey brothers and others by the age of 16. He moved to the United States in 1949 and soon landed a three-year stint with the Stan Kenton Orchestra that set him on the road to stardom. Ferguson's many accomplishments include performances on numerous film soundtracks, including those of "The Ten Commandments" and "White Christmas," and his recording of "Gonna Fly Now," the theme from the motion picture "Rocky," which became a top 10 single and earned him a gold album ("Conquistador") and a Grammy nomination. After fronting High Voltage, a fusion-funk band, in the 1980s, he formed "his little big band," Big Bop Nouveau, in the late '80s. The band's alumni include Don Ellis, Chuck Mangione, Bill Chase, Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, Bob James, Joe Zawinul, Slide Hampton and others – a testament to Ferguson's consistent efforts to encourage the young performers in his bands in their careers, just as his mentors encouraged him. Ferguson, who has recorded more than 100 albums, continues to tour eight months each year, performing at festivals, concert halls, jazz clubs and universities. For tickets for the April 12 Maynard Ferguson concert, call MeadowView at (423) 578-6600. For more information on the Tri-Cities Jazz Fest, tickets for the April 11 concert, or special assistance for those with disabilities, contact the ETSU Department of Music at 439-4270 or Champouillon at 439-6955 or champoui@mail.etsu.edu.

Tri-Cities Jazz Festival features Maynard Ferguson