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A Concert Supreme: Jazz ensemble, guests to perform at Hall

By Elias Demeropolis, For The Miami Student

The Miami University Jazz Ensemble and Miami University Jazz Quintet will fill the air with music by Miles Davis, Tom Harrell, Sam Johns and Kenny Dorham on Feb. 24 in Hall Auditorium.

The compositions will incorporate a wide variety of jazz styles, channeling the blues, swing and Latin styles most predominately.

Miami's ensemble and five-member group will not be alone in performing the melodic grooves, and soulful ballads of Miles and company - four guest artists from around the region will accompany them. Namely, Michael Sharfe on bass, Erwin Stuckey on piano, Matthew Anklan on trumpet and Tony Franklin on drum set. Each boast long running careers as musicians hailing from around the Midwest.

Jeremy Long, the director of the Miami University Jazz Ensemble and assistant professor of Saxophone, noted the wealth of musicians in the Midwest.

"This region is recognized for having many world-class musicians," Long said. "[I'm] excited that they are going to share their talents and expertise with our students and the Oxford community."

Senior Russian and philosophy major, and longtime jazz aficionado, Nick Higgins is looking forward to this upcoming concert.

"I personally love going to see live jazz music," Higgins said. "There's an element of rawness that recordings don't quite capture. In my opinion, it [jazz] really carries an aura of authenticity that separates it from other music, but it's difficult to do see live jazz without traveling to Clifton [Ohio] or downtown Cincinnati."

Many consider that contemporary hip-hop beats' samples are indebted to jazz artists such as Quincy Jones, Nina Simone, Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis. The lattermost artists have provided pieces that have laid the foundation for songs by Proof, Mobb Deep and Lord Finesse, according to popular music blog WhoSampled.com.

"I definitely think that it's good to see jazz musicians from outside of Oxford come visit campus," Higgins said. "Usually it's a bit of a rarity to see prominent musicians come to Miami without it having to be [at] Brick Street."

The Miami University Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Quintet will perform with guest artists from around the region at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24 at Hall Auditorium.