Chicago Heights, IL–(ENEWSPF)– Hear some of the nation’s top jazz artists at Prairie State College’s (PSC) 23rd annual Jazz Fest. Featuring the talents of Chicago trumpeter Orbert Davis and New Orleans saxophonist Ed Petersen as well as Larry Gray on bass, PSC’s professor of music Valerie Nicholson on piano, and Joel Spencer on drums, this is an event not to be missed.
“The concert just gets bigger and better every year, and the musicians enjoy coming back each time to jam with each other,” said Nicholson, who also coordinates the festival.
Friday, February 18 at 7:30 p.m., in the PSC auditorium is the concert date. The college is located at 202 S. Halsted St., Chicago Heights. Ticket prices are the same as last year – general admission is $12; students and senior citizens tickets are $8. Tickets are available in advance in the PSC Business Office Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tickets also are available at the door.
This will be the second year for the presentation of the Howard Luckey Excellence in Jazz Leadership Award. The award goes to a community member who has provided extensive and consistent support of jazz through teaching, performing, or organizing in a spirit of humility and community. This award is in memory of Howard Luckey, a social science faculty member who passed away in 2010.
“Howard was a long time supporter of the Jazz Festival and music education,” said Nicholson. “He understood the importance of the arts in people’s lives and the impact they have on intellectual, creative, and emotional growth.”
Another important component of the PSC Jazz Festival are the instrumental clinics led by the featured artists. The clinics are for local junior high and high school jazz musicians, typically at least 25 schools participate with over 750 students. It is an opportunity for students to receive instruction in technique and performance from the jazz masters.
Those who attend the evening concert can also enjoy the Christopher Art Gallery exhibit, Twenty-four Maximum, a regional juried exhibit of small works. The gallery will be open before the concert through intermission.
For more information on the Jazz Festival, or to purchase tickets to Friday’s concert, call the college at (708) 709-3500.
