Special Guest Chick Corea—

World Class Jazz At WestConn For 11th Annual Festival

DANBURY — Chick Corea is a legend in music, having mastered the genres of jazz, fusion, classical and pop. He has displayed his piano virtuosity at leading venues throughout the world, and at 7 pm on Saturday, April 29, Mr Corea will bring his incredible talent to Western Connecticut State University.

The Chick Corea Trio will perform at the 11th Annual WestConn/Litchfield Performing Arts Jazz Festival in Ives Concert Hall.

The NEA Jazz Masters website states: “A ground-breaking artist both as a keyboardist — piano, electric piano, synthesizer — and as a composer-arranger, Chick Corea has moved fluidly among jazz, fusion, and classical music throughout a four-decade career, winning national and international honors including 12 Grammy awards. He ranks with Herbie Hancock and Keith Jarrett as one of the leading piano stylists to emerge after Bill Evans and McCoy Tyner, and he has composed such notable jazz standards as ‘Spain,’ ‘La Fiesta’ and ‘Windows.’”

Mr Corea will perform with The Chick Corea Trio, featuring the Brazilian percussionist Airto Moreira and the legendary bassist Eddie Gomez. Mr Moreira and Mr Gomez are both celebrated jazz artists in their own right. In addition to the incredible learning experience for WestConn’s music students during the festival’s clinics, the community will be able to enjoy three consecutive evening concerts by world-class musicians during the festival.

Prior to the Chick Corea concert, an all-star jam session featuring the festival’s clinicians — Conrad Herwig (trombone), Mark Whitfield (guitar), Terrell Stafford (trumpet), Matt Wilson (drums), Don Braden (saxophone), Jeff Hellmer (piano) and Dave Ruffels (bass) — will be offered at 7 pm on Thursday, April 27, in Ives Concert Hall in White Hall.

Ticket prices will be $10 for adults, and $5 for senior citizens and non-WestConn students who are not participating in the festival. WestConn students will be admitted free with valid ID.

At 7 pm on Friday, April 28, also in Ives Concert Hall, the WCSU Jazz Orchestra will perform with Grammy Award-winning artist Slide Hampton on trombone. Hampton, named a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master in 2005, is renowned for his work both as a performer and an educator. Two outstanding high school big bands selected during the festival also will perform. Tickets will be $10 for adults, and $5 for senior citizens and non-WestConn students who are not participating in the festival. WestConn students will be admitted free with valid ID.

Tickets for the Chick Corea Trio performance on April 29 will be $30 for adults, and $20 for senior citizens and non-WestConn students who are not participating in the festival. WestConn students will be admitted free with valid ID.

Professor of Music Dr Dan Goble, who oversees the jazz festival, is thrilled to bring Corea to Danbury.

“This festival keeps getting bigger and better,” said Dr Goble. “The students keep working harder and raising the bar. This is now a world-class event.”

WestConn, Litchfield Performing Arts and Education Connection will present the festival. Chick Corea’s appearance is made possible by a grant from the WCSU Student Government Association.

For more information, call 837-8350 or visit WCSU.edu/music/events. To purchase tickets, visits Tickets.com or call 837-8499.

Ives Concert Hall is within White Hall, on Western CT State University’s midtown campus at 181 White Street. Plenty off free parking is available in the parking garage across the street.