Purdue Jazz Festival goes Latin in 2007

Concerts, competitions, special events enliven annual event

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

The 17th annual Purdue Jazz Festival heats up Greater Lafayette beginning Thursday, Jan. 18, and continuing through Sunday, Jan. 21, with a focus on Latin jazz. Headliner concerts by the Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band, and Brazilian trumpeter Claudio Roditi with world-class marimba player Dave Samuels and the Purdue Jazz Band highlight the event along with a competition featuring more than 80 of the Midwest’s top junior and senior high school big bands and combos.

The four-day Purdue Jazz Festival is sponsored by Purdue Bands & Orchestra in collaboration with Purdue Convocations. Financial backing comes from PEFCU, the Vision of Hope Foundation, the Journal and Courier, Yamaha, Zildjian and Jamey Aebersold Jazz.

The festival’s first headliner concert features the Latin Jazz Band of Grammy Award winning bandleader and artist Poncho Sanchez. The concert is set for 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, in Loeb Playhouse of the Purdue Stewart Center, sponsored by Purdue Convocations. Tickets are $32.

On Saturday, instrumental jazz ensembles from three states tune up early as competition stretches throughout the day in seven locations in the Purdue Stewart Center, Purdue Memorial Union, University Church and Elliott Hall of Music. The music starts at 9 a.m. and continues through 5:30 p.m. It’s all free. A variety of clinics on jazz topics are also free and open to the public on Saturday; for more information please visit: www.purdue.edu/bands/jazzfest

Chicago saxophone player Mark Colby and his Quartet will perform at a free noon concert on Saturday, Jan. 20, in Loeb Playhouse that’s open to participants and the community. In a special kick-off event added to the 2007 festival, Colby will be featured with the Purdue Jazz Band and the Columbus North High School Jazz Band in a free show at 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, in the Long Center, 111 N. Sixth St.

Trumpeter/flugelhornist Claudio Roditi, a native of Rio de Janeiro, headlines Saturday’s Festival Finale concert along with Dave Samuels who is considered by many to be the top marimba player of his generation. They will perform with the Purdue Jazz Band at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, in Loeb Playhouse. Tickets are $10

Related festival events include a 9:30 p.m. jazz jam led by Purdue musicians at the Vienna Bakery & Cafe, Jan. 19; live jazz and blues at the Knickerbocker, Jan. 19 and 20; an 11 a.m. jazz church service with the Riverboat Ramblers at University Church, Jan. 21; a jazz brunch with live music from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Jan. 21 at Sarge Oak at City Centre; and a Midwinter Jazz & Swing Dance at Jefferson High School at 3 p.m. Jan. 21.

For more information on Purdue Jazz Festival events, contact Purdue Bands Public Relations Director Kathy Matter at (765) 496-6785; kcmatter@purdue.edu To purchase tickets for headliner concerts call (765) 494-3933 in the Lafayette area or (800) 914-SHOW.