Purdue News

December 31, 2002 Jazz drummer Matt Wilson brings quirky style to Purdue WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Matt Wilson's Arts and Crafts, a jazz ensemble headed by the quirky, but highly-acclaimed percussionist Matt Wilson, will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17, in Loeb Playhouse. Admission is $22 for general public, $15 for Purdue students and children K-12. Tickets can be purchased at Purdue box offices or charged by phone at (765) 494-3933 or (800) 914-SHOW. Tickets also are available at all Ticketmaster outlets. The group is presented by Purdue Convocations. Along with Wilson, the ensemble will feature Terell Stafford on trumpet, Larry Goldings on piano and Dennis Irwin on bass. The concert is a part of the 2003 Purdue Jazz Festival. Wilson is considered one of the most imaginative jazz artists of his generation. His creative work as a drummer, composer, recording artist, bandleader, educator, author, producer and humorist is recognized worldwide for its originality and presentation. Jazz Magazine wrote, "If you combined Groucho Marx with Marco Polo, Gomer Pyle and Albert Einstein and gave them a drum set, they would probably play exactly like the funny, explorative, country-boy genius Matt Wilson." As a sideman, Wilson performs with the Dewey Redman Quartet, Lee Konitz Trio, Buster William Quartet, Andrew Hill Trio, Ray Anderson's Bonemeal and the Frank Kimbrough Trio, among others. He has appeared on more than 90 albums as a sideman and performs on jingles and soundtracks for movies and television. As a leader, Wilson has released four critically acclaimed recordings for Palmetto Records. Gary Giddins of The Village Voice recently chose his "Arts and Crafts" album as one of the Top 20 Jazz Recordings of 2001. His fifth effort for Palmetto will be with the Matt Wilson Quartet. It will be released in February 2003. CONTACT: Larry Sommers, Purdue Convocations, (765) 494-5045, lsommers@purdue.edu. NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: A publication-quality photograph of Matt Wilson is available at ftp://ftp.purdue.edu/pub/uns/wilson.m.jpeg. Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page