University Relations and Communications, 715-346-3046, Fax 715-346-2042, www.uwsp.edu/news
The Department of Music at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point will host the 2006 Jazz Festival Monday, January 30, through Friday, February 3, featuring the renowned contemporary jazz group, the Yellowjackets.
Formerly a one day event, the weeklong festival will be held in celebration of the opening of the Noel Fine Arts Center (NFAC) during the 2005-06 academic year, featuring events each day.
The festival opens Monday with an Open Mic Jazz Jam Session in the Basement Brewhaus of the Dreyfus University Center. Hosted by students in the jazz studies program, the session will be held at 7 p.m. and is open to the public free of charge.
Mathew Buchman, associate professor of music and chair of the jazz studies program at UWSP, will present a jazz history lecture on Tuesday, focusing on the Yellowjackets. The lecture will be held in NFAC Lecture Hall Room 221 and is open to the public free of charge.
On Wednesday, 89.9 FM WWSP will feature the music of the Yellowjackets from 7-10 p.m. on Jazz Sides, the campus radio jazz program.
The UWSP Alumni Band will perform Thursday in Michelsen Hall, NFAC, at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $6.75 for adults, $3.75 for seniors, and $2.75 for children and UWSP students purchasing tickets in advance. Admission will be free at the door for UWSP students if the concert is not sold out.
On Friday, the Yellowjackets will perform in Michelsen Hall, NFAC, at noon and 7:30 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults and $12 for children. The group is composed of bassist Jimmy Haslip, saxophonist Bob Mintzer, drummer Marcus Baylor and keyboardist Russell Ferrante. The Yellowjackets released their first, self-titled album in 1981. The group has since undergone some changes, switching record labels several times and changing instrumentation over the years, but has remained focused on creating great music. In 2005, the Yellowjackets released their 22nd album, “Altered States.”
Friday also will include festival adjudication of local middle and high school jazz bands from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the NFAC, and a Quittin’ Time Series performance by Joanna James in the Basement Brewhaus. James, a soul, folk and blues singer/songwriter from St. Paul, Minn., will perform from 4 to 6 p.m. The event is open to the public free of charge.
Tickets for Thursday and Friday’s events are available at the University Box Office, Room 103A University Center, (715) 346-4100 or (800) 838-3378 or at the door.
