Jazz riffs will resonate across CMU’s campus during the 43rd Annual Jazz Weekend, February 4-5, 2016.  From the initial downbeat to the last chord, this annual event offers the public a full line-up of jazz performances by CMU faculty, students and the most talented high school jazz musicians from across the state of Michigan.  These students perform for top Midwest clinicians and adjudicators.

2010-110-69 Jazz Weekend

On Thursday, February 4th Jazz Weekend opens with the CMU Faculty Jazz Combo performing in Staples Family Concert Hall in the CMU music building.  This concert starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets can be purchased at the door or are available by calling CMU Ticket Central                  888-347-3872.

Friday, February 5th features a variety of free concerts.  Central Wails Saxophone Orchestra and several jazz ensembles will perform in the University Center’s Down Under Club from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.  At 3 p.m. CMU’s Jazzbone, a jazz trombone ensemble, will take the stage in Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium followed by CMU jazz band, Jazz Central at 4 p.m.

2012-118-032 Jazz Bone trombone ensemble

At 8 p.m. on Friday, February 5th in Plachta Auditorium, Walter White, the great jazz and lead trumpet player, and his rhythm section will perform with Jazz Lab I, CMU’s premier jazz group.  Walter has performed with Bob James, Dave Holland, the Mingus Big Band, the Woody Herman Orchestra, The Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Gunther Schuller, Arturo Sandoval and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis.  Walter’s playing has enhanced the sound tracks of records, movies and television including sitcoms, TAXI and The Cosby Show.  Tickets for this performance are limited and can be purchased by calling CMU Ticket Central at 888-347-3872.

For more information on Jazz Weekend and other upcoming concerts visit CMU’s School of Music website https://www.cmich.edu/colleges/CCFA/CCFASchoolofMusic/CCFASOMEvents/Pages/default.aspx

 

2012-001-099 Darcy Orlik tan close up 2

 

Darcy Orlik is events coordinator at Central Michigan University’s College of Communications and Fine Arts and a CMU alum.

 

PHOTOS:  CMU Faculty Jazz Combo; CMU Jazz Weekend; CMU’s Jazz Bone