| Russell Schmidt |
The sounds of piano, trombone and jazz combos will be featured during Jazz Week 2011 at Bowling Green
State University starting tonight and continuing through Friday,
Events include performances, clinics and appearances by BGSU jazz students, faculty and special guests
Jay Ashby and Russell Schmidt.
Schmidt, previously Director of Jazz Activities at BGSU, returns to campus to open Jazz Week with a
concert tonight at 8 in Bryan Recital Hall of the Moore Musical Arts Center. Joining Schmidt will be
BGSU jazz faculty members David Bixler, alto saxophone, Chris Buzzelli, guitar, Jeff Halsey, bass, and
Roger Schupp, drums.
Schmidt is a previous and holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied with renowned
jazz pedagogue Rayburn Wright.
As a performer, Schmidt was one of only two American jazz pianists selected to participate in the second
Martial Solal International Jazz Piano Competition in Paris. Among his recent recordings are
"Season of Change," which is his debut release as a leader, "Jazz Vespers," by Paul
Ferguson, and "The Surprise of Being – Live at Birdland" by the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra
featuring Joe Lovano.
Student jazz combos will take the stage at the Bryan Recital Hall Tuesday at 8 p.m. .
On Wednesday, trombonist Jay Ashby and members of the BGSU jazz faculty will perform as part of the
faculty artist series. Ashby is a four-time Grammy Award-winning producer whose resume includes more
than 100 recordings, ranging in style and genre from jazz and pop to world music.
| Jay Ashby |
In recent years, Ashby has performed, traveled and recorded extensively with some of the most renowned
artists in the industry.
His longtime association with trumpet master Claudio Roditi helped develop his strong affinity for
Brazilian jazz.
As a member of Dizzy Gillespie’s United Nation Orchestra in the early 1990s, Ashby forged relationships
with jazz greats Paquito D’Rivera and Jon Faddis.
In 1999, in a testament to his versatility, he began his first foray into the pop world as trombonist,
percussionist and arranger with pop music icon Paul Simon.
The Vocal Jazz Ensemble will perform Thursday at 8 p.m. in Bryan Recital Hall.
Friday at 8 p.m. in Kobacker Hall, Ashby will join the Jazz Lab Band I in a program that will include
some of Ashby’s own material and arrangements including "The BGSU Blues."
All events are sponsored in part by Marlene Norton and Jerry Liss and are free and open to the public.
Online:
www.bgsu.edu/colleges/music/
