Contact: Muriel Banares or
Carmen Ramos Chandler ,
(818) 677-2130
mbanares@exec.csun.edu

A Rare Jazz Arrangement of "Porgy & Bess" Premieres at CSUN

The concert will feature Los Angeles-based trumpeter, Clay Jenkins and CSUN's award-winning Jazz "A" Band.

Forty years ago, arranger and orchestrator Gil Evans combined musical forces with trumpeter Miles Davis to explore the popular Gershwin opera, "Porgy & Bess," making it into a milestone in recorded jazz.

"Evans' orchestral approach to jazz writing, combined with the artistic genius and voice of Miles Davis, created a new sound and direction for jazz," said Matt Harris, director of CSUN's jazz studies.

The CSUN concert will be the first time the updated "Porgy & Bess" score will be played on the West Coast and the second time it has ever been performed by a college jazz orchestra, said David Pier, executive director of CSUN's Performing Arts Center.

"The newly resurfaced scores are a great opportunity to focus attention in this great artistic work, to bring something unique to LA jazz audiences and stretch my students' musical horizons," Harris said.

Trumpeter Jenkins has recorded with the orchestras of Stan Kenton, Count Basie, Buddy Rich, Harry James, Jim Widner, John Clayton and Jeff Hamilton. He recorded three solo albums as well; "Rings," "Give and Gather" and "Yellow Flowers After." Cal State Northridge's Jazz "A" Band tours internationally and won first place at UC Berkeley's Pacific Coast Collegiate Jazz Festival 11 consecutive times. The band is heard on jazz radios around the world.

Concert tickets are $10. The concert will take place at the Performing Arts Center in the University Student Union on Zelzah and Plummer, 1/2 mile north of Nordoff.

Call (818) 677-2488 for tickets or David Pier for background information at (818) 677-3943.