Jazz Ensemble and Combos present concert Feb. 12

The Furman Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combos will present a concert Friday, Feb. 12, at 8 p.m. in Daniel Recital Hall on the Furman University campus.

The concert is open to the public. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students. The event is part of Furman’s Cultural Life Program.

Dr. Matt Olson, Associate Professor of Saxophone and Director of Jazz Studies at Furman, will conduct the ensemble and combos, which are coached by Olson and Furman faculty member and jazz guitarist, Steve Watson.

The performance features music from Luiz Bonfá, John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, Wayne Shorter, Quincy Jones and other artists.

A native of Racine, Wis., Olson is a scholar and performer in the areas of jazz and saxophone. He has performed with a number of renowned artists including Randy Brecker, Kurt Elling, Benny Carter, Ken Peplowski, Kevin Mahogany, Chris Vadala, Doc Severinsen, Manhattan Transfer, Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, Lou Rawls, Johnny Mathis, Wayne Newton, the Temptations, the Four Tops, children’s entertainer Shari Lewis, the Chicago Jazz Ensemble, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. His performances have taken him to the Montreal Jazz Festival as well as Chicago’s Jazz Showcase and Orchestra Hall.

Olson holds a bachelor’s and master’s from Northwestern University, and a DMA from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

For more information about the event, contact the Furman University Music Department at (864) 294-2086, or email the department at FurmanMusic@furman.edu.