February 24-26 – Mentor – Lakeland Community College Performing Arts Center
Featuring the Yellowjackets, Dave Morgan’s “The Way of the Slyman”, Big Band Matinee, and College and High School Invitational
The internationally acclaimed jazz fusion group, Yellowjackets will perform at the 40th Annual Lakeland Community College Jazz Festival this February. The festival will also feature a big band matinee featuring the Lakeland Civic Jazz Orchestra and the Dave Banks Big Band. Additionally, Dave Morgan will present his composition “The Way of the Sly Man” with a large ensemble featuring the regions top jazz artists. The weekend is also a highlight for the jazz education community in Northeast Ohio and features area high school, and college jazz ensembles.
Friday, February 24
8:30a.m. – 4:30p.m. High School Performances & Adjudication
8 p.m. Concert: Dave Morgan & Friends – “The Way of the Sly Man”
$15 general public; $10 students
Renown bass player, composer and Professor of Music at Youngstown State University, Dave Morgan presents his composition “The Way of the Sly Man”. This composition draws upon a variety of musical influences in addition to American jazz and pop idioms, including the music of the Middle East, India, and Africa. In the first half of the program, vocalist Shannon Eller will be featured on new fresh arrangements of Dave Morgan’s. Additionally Morgan’s arrangement of Frank Zappa’s masterpiece “Echidna’s Arf (Of You)” will be performed. This concert will feature a fourteen piece ensemble with some of the regions top jazz artists including Howie Smith, Jack Schantz, Jamey Haddad, Chris Anderson and more.
Saturday, February 25
9:00a.m. to 1:00p.m. High School Performances & Adjudication
1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Lakeland College Invitational
Free and open to the public. Featuring jazz ensembles from:
– Cleveland State University Jazz Combo under the direction of Bill Ransom
– Oberlin College Jazz Ensemble
– University of Akron Fusion Ensemble under the direction of Mark Gonder
4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Clinic with the Yellowjackets
The Yellowjackets will hold a free clinic to share their knowledge and expertise of jazz with developing and professional musicians. Free and open to the public.
8 p.m. Headline Concert: Yellowjackets
$25 general public; $15 students
Two-time Grammy winning group the Yellowjackets make their first appearance in northeast Ohio in many years. The group is currently nominated for two more Grammy’s in 2012 for Best Jazz Instrumental Album (“Timeline”) and Best Instrumental Composition (“Timeline” by Russell Ferrante). This progressive jazz group has been together for 31 years and has garnered major critical acclaim over the years for their originality and the depth of their music and playing. Their 21st CD was just released in 2011 on the Mack Ave label, one of today’s leading jazz labels. Featuring Russell Ferrante on keyboards, Bob Mintzer on sax, and William Kennedy on drums.
Sunday, February 26
4PM Big Band Matinee
Featuring the Lakeland Civic Jazz Orchestra & the Dave Banks Big Band
Tickets $10, $7 students
The Lakeland Civic Jazz Orchestra is under the direction of Dave Sterner and will feature “Adventures in Db, the music of Count Basie”. The Dave Banks Big Band will feature music from some of the best arrangers in the business as well as compositions and arrangements from our local associates and band members.
photo: Raj Naik
