10th Annual WCSU April Jazz Festival To Feature Lovano Nonet

DANBURY — The critics are unanimous: tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano is one of the best in the business. He’s played some of the most famous jazz clubs and festivals in the world. At 7 pm on Friday, April 29, Mr Lovano will bring his incredible talent to Western Connecticut State University.

The Joe Lovano Nonet will perform as part of the 10th Annual WestConn/Litchfield Performing Arts Jazz Festival in Ives Concert Hall at 181 White Street in Danbury.

Mr Lovano’s discography runs more than four pages, with two-dozen releases of his own and an additional 100 or more on which he played as a guest artist with other jazz greats. The Grammy Award-winner has won so many critic and reader’s poll awards for tenor saxophonist of the year in the past ten years that it’s difficult to keep track of all of them.

“It’s fair to say that he’s one of the greatest musicians in jazz history,” wrote Ben Ratliff of The New York Times.

Don Heckman, for The Los Angeles Times, wrote, “Lovano … fully justifies the growing view of him as an important, world-class jazz talent.”

Tenor saxophone player Martin Sather, a junior majoring in music at WestConn, couldn’t agree more.

“The jazz festival is really a great opportunity for us to have access to such a creative force in music today,” said Mr Sather, who came to study at WestConn from Fairbanks, Alaska. “Joe Lovano’s whole group is full of extremely talented musicians, and we’re very excited to learn from them, be able to talk with them and hear them perform.”

In addition to the incredible learning experience for students during the festival’s clinics, the greater Danbury community will be able to enjoy three consecutive evening concerts by world-class musicians during the festival.

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 John Benetiz (bass) — will be at 7 pm on Thursday, April 28, in Ives Concert Hall. Ticket prices will be $15 for adults, and $10 for senior citizens and non-WestConn students who are not participating in the festival.

Tickets for the Joe Lovano Nonet performance on Friday, April 29, will be $25 for adults, and $15 for senior citizens and non-WestConn students who are not participating in the festival.

And at 7 pm on Saturday, April 30, in Ives Concert Hall, the WCSU Jazz Orchestra will perform with Conrad Herwig on trombone. Two outstanding high school big bands selected during the festival also will perform.

Tickets will be $15 for adults, and $10 for senior citizens and non-WestConn students who are not participating in the festival.

Last year’s festival, with Dave Holland, was incredible,” Mr Sather said. “It set the bar really high, but I think we can get to that level, if not top it, this year. We’re all pretty excited about this,” he added. “We’re so close to New York and we have access to so many great musicians. I think this really is one of the best jazz festivals in the country.”

Professor of music Dr Dan Goble, who oversees the jazz festival, agreed.

“This festival keeps getting bigger and better,” Dr Goble said. “The students keep working harder and raising the bar. This is now a world-class event … right here at WestConn. And it’s a group effort — students, staff, faculty and the administration — everybody pitches in.

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

For more information, call 837-8350 or visit www.wcsu.edu/music/events.html. To purchase tickets, go to www.tickets.com or call 837-8499.