49 years of great jazz and counting. Join Jazz Studies Program Director Mike Irish and the Michigan Tech Jazz ensembles for the 17th Annual Don Keranen Memorial Jazz Concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 15, 2016, at the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts.
The R&D Big Band will perform “Little Sunflower” with the addition of interesting sound effects and a woodwind quintet. The Jazz Lab Band will feature vocalists Kattie Riutta and Kevin Rocheleau singing “Used To Rule The World” and “Diggin’ On James Brown,” respectively. The Jazz Lab Band will perform a classic composition from the library of the Buddy Rich Big Band entitled “Groovin’ Hard” written by Don Menza. In a more contemporary style, the R&D Band will funk-out on the Tower of Power classic “Soul Vaccination.”
In 2003, Jay Keranen developed an endowed award program in his father’s name. Two $500 amounts are awarded for Outstanding Jazz Musician and The Most Improved Jazz Musician. This year’s recipients will be announced during the evening’s concert.
Tickets for the Don Keranen Memorial Jazz Concert are on sale now, $13 for adults, $5 for youth and no charge for Michigan Tech students with the Experience Tech fee. Tickets are available by phone at 7-2073, online, in person at the Central Ticket Office in the SDC or at the Rozsa Box Office the evening of the performance. Note that the Rozsa Box Office only opens two hours prior to performances.