MCC Jazzfest Concert Dir. By John Nyerges With Dr. Carl Atkins at Monroe Community College Theater

MCC Jazz Ensemble (big band) Dir. Associate Prof. John Nyerges , featuring Dr. Carl Atkins-composer/arranger/alto saxophonist. Saxophonist-composer Carl Atkins has enjoyed a broad musical career that spans European classical music to jazz.  He has performed and/or recorded with such major artists as George Russell, Gunther Schuller, Jaki Byard, Herb Pomeroy, Andy McGhee, Cecil McBee, Wayne Shorter, and Herbie Hancock, among others.  He was the founding director of the Jazz Studies program at the New England Conservatory in 1969 and from 1995-1999, was Co-Director, with legendary jazz bassist Ron Carter, of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance.  In 1984, Atkins formed Sheer Energy, the predecessor to the New Energy Jazz Orchestra. NEJO (original music -‘art’ big band) performs annually at the XRIJF and has 2 great CD’s out. Professor of Fine Arts-Music at the Rochester Institute of Technology....

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MCC Jazz Ensemble (big band) Dir. Associate Prof. John Nyerges , featuring Dr. Carl Atkins-composer/arranger/alto saxophonist. Saxophonist-composer Carl Atkins has enjoyed a broad musical career that spans European classical music to jazz.  He has performed and/or recorded with such major artists as George Russell, Gunther Schuller, Jaki Byard, Herb Pomeroy, Andy McGhee, Cecil McBee, Wayne Shorter, and Herbie Hancock, among others.  He was the founding director of the Jazz Studies program at the New England Conservatory in 1969 and from 1995-1999, was Co-Director, with legendary jazz bassist Ron Carter, of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance.  In 1984, Atkins formed Sheer Energy, the predecessor to the New Energy Jazz Orchestra. NEJO (original music -‘art’ big band) performs annually at the XRIJF and has 2 great CD’s out. Professor of Fine Arts-Music at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Classic Big Band & Small Group Jazz
The Concert will feature both original student compositions & traditional big band music. Guest artists include FORMER MCC Jazz Ensemble members: Oliver Haynes (NEJO, RIT), Will Zimmer (ESM Jazz grad student) & Zach Zwald & pro SPECIAL GUEST ARTISTS Tony Padilla (perc.), Herb Smith (t), Jon Kruger (t, NEJO/RIT) Ron Bowks- Dir. Rochester Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, Dean Keller (bari,bass clar), Eric Metzgar (d), Kyle Vock (b) & Paul Abel.

MCC students Shine!
Original R&B/Pop music & lyrics by Wentworth Scholarship Winner: Flutist, pianist, vocalist Adoria Figgins
Original jazz instrumental music by guitarist Nathan Davenport

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