String students collaborate with international jazz performers

Contact: Cara Barnes
February 1, 2013
Photo of Jamey Haddad.
Haddad

KALAMAZOO鈥擲tring Jazz World Music Explosion, an evening of music that gives string students the opportunity to interact with prominent jazz musicians, is set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13 in the Dalton Center Recital Hall.

The performance will be preceded by a 7 p.m. discussion hosted by Dr. Dan Jacobson, WMU professor of music. Tickets are $12 general admission, $10 for seniors and $5 for students, and are available from Miller Auditorium at or by calling (269) 387-2300 or (800) 228-9858.

String Jazz World Music Explosion

String Jazz World Music Explosion is the brainchild of Tom Knific, director of jazz studies, and Renata Artman Knific, chair of the string area and violinist for the Merling Trio. Guest artists include two of the most renowned jazz and world musicians today: pianist and composer Alon Yavnai and percussionist Jamey Haddad.

Photo of Alon Yavnai.
Yavnai

Yavnai and Haddad will perform with a student chamber orchestra as well as with both Knific and Artman Knific. Jazz faculty Andrew Rathbun, on saxophone, and Jon Ailabouni, on trumpet, will also perform on several works.

Bullock Music Performance Institute

The Dalton Wed@7:30pm: Live and Interactive! concert series is presented by the WMU School of Music under the auspices of the Bullock Music Performance Institute. Established in the fall of 1985 and renamed in 1988 in honor of its founder, the institute has presented events ranging from formal evening concerts to daytime educational outreach events for local audiences and students of all ages.

For more information about the Wednesday evening concert series, call (269) 387-4704 or (269) 387-4678, or visit wmich.edu/music.