Jackson State University’s Department of Music will present the “2013 Jazz on the Plaza” outdoor concert at 6 p.m. Friday, April 26. The concert will feature ensembles from the department’s jazz program, including Jazz Ensemble I, Jazz Ensemble II and Vocal Jazz Ensemble.
The guest artist will be Derrick Gardner, an internationally known jazz trumpeter. Gardner is regarded as one of today’s most influential jazz musicians, yet he remains inextricably tied to his traditional jazz roots. The son of JSU alum and renowned trumpeter Burgess Gardner, Derrick Gardner is a proven jazz master of many musical genres. He has written and performed numerous innovative classic jazz compositions.
Gardner has performed on multiple recordings with the Count Basie Orchestra, the New York Voices in 1997 and four sessions with Harry Connick Jr., including 2007′s Hurricane Katrina inspired Oh, My Nola. In addition to recording and touring with the Harry Connick Jr. Big Band, Gardner was the featured trumpet soloist in the Broadway musical Thou Shalt Not. As a sideman, Gardner has been on numerous recordings by arranging mentor and close friend, Frank Foster. He’s also been on recordings with Carlos Garnett, Stefon Harris, Roman Schwaller and Liz Wright, among others.
The “Jazz on the Plaza” outdoor concert is free and open to the public. The stage will be set up at the center of the Gibbs-Green Pedestrian Walkway on JSU’s main campus, 1400 John R. Lynch St. in Jackson. For more information, call the Department of Music at 601-979-2141.