DANBURY, CT - Western Connecticut State University’s jazz studies program and Student Jazz Club will present legendary bassist John Patitucci on Friday, Dec. 2, in a series of master classes and an evening performance in Ives Concert Hall in White Hall on the university’s Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury.
Master classes will be in Room 127 of White Hall. Attendance at the master classes is free with the purchase of a concert ticket. Tickets are $15; children and seniors will be admitted for $10, and admission is free for WCSU students with valid I.D. To purchase tickets in advance, call (203) 837-TIXX or visit www.wcsu.edu/tickets. Tickets also will be sold at the door.
Patitucci will work with five combos featuring students from all areas of the university’s music department in a master class/open clinic format for 30 minutes per group beginning at 1 p.m. This will serve as the rehearsal for the evening concert. At 4:30 p.m., Patitucci will present a master class on a topic of his choice.
At 8 p.m., the student groups will perform with Patitucci. They will include the Beals “Al Pastor” combo featuring Andre Foote ( trumpet), Jason Fitch (alto), Ted Morcaldi (guitar), Andrew Zwart (bass) and Zane West (drums); the Beals I combo featuring Dan O’Brien (tenor), Mike Godette (guitar), Silvain Castellano (bass) and Matt Hsiung (drums); the Scott I combo featuring Eric Zeiser (trumpet), Tom Kean (guitar), Andrew Zwart (bass) and Adam Szulczewski (drums); the Scott II combo featuring Greg LaPine (tenor), Emma Sayles (trombone), Justin Vendette (piano), Jerome Goosman (guitar), Jeff Guzinski (bass) and Molly Sayles (drums); and the Tomlinson I combo featuring Nicole Daskalakis (trumpet), Evan Gray (trombone), Doug Bostick (guitar), Tom Kean (bass) and Jacob Zonderman (drums).
Patitucci was named Most Valuable Player on acoustic bass in 1986 by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. He has won two Grammy Awards — one for playing and one for composing. His first solo recording, “John Patitucci,” was number one on the Billboard Jazz charts.
In addition to his eponymous solo album, Patitucci has released “On the Corner,” “Sketchbook,” “Heart of the Bass,” “Another World,” “Mistura Fina,” “One More Angel,” “Now,” “Imprint,” “Communion,” “Songs, Stories and Spirituals,” Line by Line” and “Remembrance” (with Joe Lovano and Brian Blade).
Patitucci was named Best Jazz Bassist in Guitar Player Magazine’s 1992, 1994 and 1995 Readers’ Poll and Best Jazz Bassist in Bass Player Magazine’s 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996 Readers’ Poll.
Chair of the WCSU Department of Music and Coordinator of Jazz Studies Jamie Begian said, “Having John up here to spend a day working with our students in a ‘hands-on’ setting is an unbelievable thrill. He is both a world-class bassist and educator willing to work with young people and eager to pass along his experiences to the next generation of jazz musicians. I’m very excited to see our students rise to the challenge of performing with John and how it makes them grow as musicians.”
For more information, contact the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486. To purchase tickets, call (203) 837-TIXX or visit www.wcsu.edu/tickets.
