WCU Jazz Festival 2014

Description

Western Carolina University's annual Jazz Festival will feature performers including special guest guitarist and composer Paul Bollenback and will be held on an open-air stage on campus during the late afternoon and evening of Saturday, April 26. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. near the fountain outside A.K. Hinds University Center with different ensembles taking the stage each hour. The festival opens with the WCU "Straight Ahead" Jazz Septet at 4 p.m. followed by the WCU "Modal" Jazz Septet at 5 p.m., the Jason Decristofaro Trio at 6 p.m. and the Steve Wohlrab Trio at 7 p.m. Heading the festival will be Bollenback performing with the WCU jazz Ensemble at 8 p.m. Born in Chicago, Bollenback received his first guitar at age 7. He cultivated a lifelong interest in exotic musical sounds and timbres having spent part of his childhood in the New York City area and part in India. Although he performed electric guitar in rock 'n' roll bands, he became devoted to jazz fusion after he heard Miles Davis for the first time. In addition to the concerts, a jazz improvisation master class taught by Bollenback and his dress rehearsal with the WCU Jazz Ensemble will be held at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively, in the Recital Hall of the Coulter Building and are free and open to the public. In the event of rain, the festival will be held in the Recital Hall of the Coulter Building. For more information, contact organizer Pavel Wlosok, Assoicate Professor of Jazz Studies at WCU, at 828-631-1321 or pwlosok@wcu.edu