"Symphony in Riffs" Jazz Band Concert @ SUU (CC: March 29)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 03/08/11
Michael French
Public Information Coordinator
College of Performing and Visual Arts
Southern Utah University
Office: 435-865-8667
michaelfrench@suu.edu

FOR CALENDAR EDITORS: “SYMPHONY IN RIFFS,” SUU’S JAZZ BAND CONCERT WITH BOB SHEPPARD

WHAT: The hot sounds of cool jazz will melt away the winter blues when SUU’s Jazz Band performs in “Symphony in Riffs,” a Music Masterworks series concert with guest artist Bob Sheppard on saxophone. Under the direction of Dr. Thomas Herb, the SUU Jazz Band presents a scintillating program that includes “Are We There Yet?” from the Pat Metheny Group and the Bob Curnow Band, “Ancestors” by Bob Mintzer and “Take It in Stride” by Brett Spainhour.

WHO: Southern Utah University, College of Performing and Visual Arts, Music Department

WHEN: Tuesday, March 29, 2011

TIME: 7:30pm

WHERE: Heritage Center Theatre, Cedar City, UT

TICKETS: (435) 586-7872, 8am-4:30pm; Online: www.suu.edu/arts; or purchase at door.

PRICES: $8 for adult general admission, $6 for SUU faculty and staff and $4 for youth/students. SUU students are admitted free with a valid I.D. card.


ACCLAIMED SAXOPHONIST BOB SHEPPARD
TO PERFORM AT “SYMPHONY IN RIFFS,”
SUU’S JAZZ BAND CONCERT
TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2011

Southern Utah University, Cedar City, Utah: The hot sounds of jazz will melt away the winter blues when SUU’s Jazz Band performs in “Symphony in Riffs,” a Music Masterworks series concert. Noted saxophonist Bob Sheppard will bring his artistry to the stage and join the SUU musicians. The Music Department of Southern Utah University’s College of Performing and Visual Arts presents the SUU Jazz Band in Concert on Tuesday, March 29, 2011, at the Heritage Center Theater in Cedar City. The music commences at 7:30pm. Tickets are $8 for adult general admission, $6 for SUU faculty and staff and $4 for youth/students. SUU students are admitted free with a valid I.D. card. Tickets may be purchased by calling (435) 586-7872, 8am-4:30pm; and are available online at: www.suu.edu/arts. In addition, they may be purchased at the door.

Under the direction of Dr. Thomas Herb, the SUU Jazz Band performs a scintillating program that includes “Are We There Yet?” from the Pat Metheny Group and the Bob Curnow Band, “Ancestors” by Bob Mintzer and “Take It in Stride” by Brett Spainhour. Other selections to be featured are “Dr. Cool Has Arrived,” “Symphony in Riffs,” “Cerulean Sky,” and “Chapter One.” The program is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and not to be missed.

Hailed by London’s Evening Standard as “a sort of jazz Clark Kent, whose mild manner and bespectacled, studious appearance conceals a super-versatile talent," Bob Sheppard divides his time between his home base of Los Angeles and New York and has forged working relationships with the best musicians on both coasts. Sheppard has been a steadfast member of the Billy Childs Ensembles and the Peter Erskine trio for over a decade. Additionally over the years, he has toured with Steely Dan and Boz Scaggs, and brought his diverse talents to more recent performances with James Taylor, Natalie Cole and Queen Latifah and most notably with the legendary Joni Mitchell on her current four-disc set and her 2007 Grammy-winning, Shine. He also played on a live studio video with Mitchell and Herbie Hancock. Superstar names highlight his resume, and jazz critics have been raving about him as both a sideman and leader for years, but such praise is simply a byproduct of Sheppard´s years of steady work and dedication to his craft - a tradition that continues on Close Your Eyes, his latest release as an artist and is the debut CD for the BFM Jazz label. Other distinguished collaborations include eight years with Freddie Hubbard, and tours and performances with Chick Corea´s ensemble Origin, Mike Stern, Randy Brecker, Horace Silver, Lyle Mays, Nat Adderly and Toshiko Akiyoshi/Tabackin Big Band. Some of his more significant recording credits include Scott Henderson, John Beasley, Mark Isham, Otmaro Ruiz, Bill Cunliffe, vocalist Kurt Elling, Marilyn Scott, Michael Franks and Diane Reeves, while including pop icons Steely Dan, Rickie Lee Jones, Rod Stewart, Randy Newman and Stevie Wonder. As part of America´s newest past time you can occasionally catch Sheppard soloing on the hit TV show American Idol. He has honed his intuitive personal style through collaborations with this remarkable range of artists as well as playing on over a hundred movie and television soundtracks. Having earned his Master´s from the Eastman School of Music, Sheppard draws upon his diverse musical background delivering musical intellect, commanding technique with a warm inviting sound to every performance. As a passionate music educator, Sheppard is a part-time faculty member at the USC Thorton School of Music.

For an evening of great music, plan on attending SUU’s Jazz Band in Concert featuring guest artist saxophonist Bob Sheppard. For more information on the SUU College of Performing and Visual Arts events, please call the Arts Hotline at (435) 865-8800, or visit www.suu.edu/arts.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE
The Southern Utah University College of Performing and Visual Arts is comprised of nationally accredited departments of Art and Design, Music, Theatre Arts and Dance, as well as a graduate program in Arts Administration. The College offers 16 different degree areas, including liberal arts Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees; professional Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Fine Arts in art and theatre degrees; and a Master of Fine Arts in Arts Administration degree. More than 60 full- and part-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring over 550 majors in the College. Over 1100 students enroll each year in over 195 arts classes on the SUU campus. The College presents 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year. The College’s affiliate organizations include the Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery, American Folk Ballet, Utah Shakespearean Festival, the performance group Acclamation, and the SUU Ballroom Dance Company. For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, contact the Office of the Dean (435) 865-8561, or by e-mail at cpvamktg@suu.edu.