MURRAY, Ky. — The twelfth annual Murray State University Jamey Aebersold Jazz Festival will take place Friday, March 30, and features middle school, high school and university jazz groups from four states performing in clinics and concerts.
The clinics serve as a continuous concert throughout the day, beginning in Lovett Auditorium at 8:30 a.m., with groups performing a wide assortment of jazz music. The festival will then culminate with a headline performance by the Jamey Aebersold Quartet at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Hall. All concerts and clinics are free and open to the public.
“Our clinicians are some of the most respected musicians and teachers in this part of the country,” said Dr. Todd E. Hill, professor of music and director of jazz studies at Murray State who also serves as the event’s coordinator. “The participants will be getting the high-quality jazz education experience for which we are known for.”
Twelve outstanding middle and high school groups from the region will participate in the festival, which is designed for educational rather than competitive purposes. They will work with professional musicians and educators — including Ricky Burkhead from the University of Mississippi, Dr. Richard Ripani from Hume-Fogg Academic High School in Nashville, Dr. Todd French from Murray State and Dean Hughes, a freelance jazz percussionist — while completing clinics with Murray State students. There will also be a special improvisation clinic with jazz education legend Aebersold and his rhythm section at 3 p.m. in the Performing Arts Hall.
“We don’t have the bands competing with one another — there is so much of that already,” Hill said. “This is a musical event for sharing and learning.”
The clinics will take place on the stage of Lovett Auditorium with two groups set up simultaneously to allow for near-continuous music from the visiting groups.
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