Wednesday, April 21, 2004

Jazz fest is this weekend

By LINDSAY BIANCHI

lbianchi@the citizennews.com

Get into the swing of things this Saturday at the Second Annual Lafayette Jazz Festival being held at Fayetteville’s Villages Amphitheatre located across from Fayette County High School. The festival will feature performances by local high school, college jazz groups and a military jazz band for a complete day of jazz music and is sponsored by the Fayette County High School Band. Admission to the LaFayette Jazz Festival is $5 in advance and $7 at the door. Tickets are available at City Hall and Fayette County High School.

School officials say the line up for bands this year is fantastic. The festival also features great prizes from local merchants to raffle, a variety of food, and umbrellas and tables to enjoy the music.

It’s an all day event which starts at noon with The Clayton Community Big Band. Big Band musicians include: saxophonists Peter Swan, Abbie Byron-Goslin, Barett Hoover, Calvin Moorer , and Steven Finch ; trumpeters Daniel Sims , Wheeler, Mark Lewis , Joseph Gawel, and Stephen Musker; trombonists Doug Murray, John P. Newton, Jonathan Jones, andÊTony Terrell; pianist Elena Cholakova; bassists Simpson andÊ Sid Beck ; drummer Purinton; guitaristsÊ Patrick Thompson, Chris Odom, andÊ Jared Spears; and percussionist Bob Smith.

At 2 p.m. listen to the jazz flavors of Clayton State’s Jazz Combo. Jazz Combo musicians include: trumpeter Michael Wheeler, trombonist and keyboardist Brandon Tucker, woodwind and saxophonist Houghton, guitarist Jesse Hardin, bassist Brent Simpson ,and Fayetteville’s own, drummer Brandon Purinton .

Stacey Houghton, Clayton State’s instructor of Jazz Studies, directs both the Jazz Combo and the Clayton Community Big Band. For additional information on Clayton State’s Jazz Combo or to learn more about the Clayton Community Big Band, contact Houghton at StaceyHoughton@mail.clayton.edu.

What-Lafayette Jazz Festival

When-Saturday

Where-Villages Amphitheatre, Fayetteville

Cost-$5 in advance, $7 at the door.