Welcome to the 2012 Purdue Jazz Festival!

The 22nd annual Purdue Jazz Festival is set for January 21, 2012!  Once again we will be featuring performances by some of the most outstanding jazz musicians and educators from around the country and indeed from around the world! 

Panamanian jazz pianist and two-time Grammy™ winner Danilo Pérez kicks off the Purdue Jazz Festival with a global, all-star band that celebrates the music and bountiful inspiration of his mentor, Dizzy Gillespie. He was the youngest member of the final edition of Dizzy Gillespie’s United Nation Orchestra.  Now, Pérez’s band—featuring David Sánchez, tenor saxophone; Rudresh Mahanthappa, alto saxophone; Jamey Haddad, percussion; Ben Street, bass; Adam Cruz, drums; and Amir ElSaffar, trumpet and voice—performs new arrangements of classic Gillespie tunes in addition to original group compositions. Dizzy’s bands were always a constant melting pot of styles, genres, and pan-global collaborations. Pérez’s hand-picked all-stars—with roots in Afro-Cuban, be-bop, Indian, African, and Middle Eastern music—will more than honor Dizzy’s legendary vision.

Vibraphonist Dick Sisto, this year’s artist-in-residence, has performed with a virtual who’s who in contemporary jazz.  Currently, he is the music director at the famous Seelbach Bar at the Seelbach Hilton Hotel in Louisville, and the host of two public radio jazz shows for WFPK, Louisville.  As an educator, he is part of the acclaimed jazz faculty at the University of Louisville and has been the vibes teacher for the Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops for over ten years.

Although Carl Saunders was born in Indianapolis, when he was five his family settled in Los Angeles where he has maintained his huge West Coast presence.  A true veteran big band trumpeter, Carl has played with some of the best known big bands and leaders in jazz history, including Stan Kenton, Si Zentner, Harry James, Maynard Ferguson, Benny Goodman, Charlie Barnet and Buddy Rich.  In 1984, Saunders became the lead trumpeter with Bill Holman (a position he still holds), and worked with Supersax, Bob Florence's Limited Edition, and the Gerald Wilson Orchestra.  Some of his recent recording projects as a leader of his own big band frame him at his very best, as a powerful lead player, an astounding improviser and as a gifted arranger/composer. 

After receiving his Masters Degree from the University of Miami, Denis DiBlasio joined the big band of legendary trumpeter Maynard Ferguson, serving as his Musical Director for five years. During this time he honed his virtuosity on the baritone saxophone and flute as well as a prodigious scat-vocal technique, and developed estimable composing/ arranging skills. He is currently Director of the Jazz Department at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey.  As a clinician for the Yamaha Musical Corporation, DiBlasio has taught and performed all over the world. His unique combination of positive motivation and witty sense of humor ensures an atmosphere where "making music is fun."

These guest artists and over 21 other outstanding adjudicators and clinicians will be sharing their knowledge and musical insights with thousands of students from all over the Mid West at 2012 Purdue Jazz Festival!

Sincerely,

Mo Trout