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Jazz Ensemble and Combos Perform Oct. 28


Last updated October 19, 2016

By Tina Underwood

The Furman University Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combos will present their fall concert Friday, Oct. 28 at 8 p.m. in Daniel Recital Hall on the Furman campus.

Presented by the Furman Department of Music, the concert is open to the public. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students. Tickets are available at the door.

Furman University Professor of Music Matt Olson conducts. Both Olson and faculty member Steve Watson coach the jazz combos.

The Jazz Combos will perform the music of Clifford Brown, Herbie Hancock, Horace Silver and Antonio Carlos Jobim. The Jazz Ensemble will perform selections by Larry Shay, Joe Goodwin, Mark Fisher, Paul Francis Webster, Bronislau Kaper, Neal Hefti, Jaun Tizol, Bob Brookmeyer and Charles Mingus.

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

About Matt Olson
A native of Racine, Wis., Dr. Matt Olson is Associate Professor of Saxophone and Director of Jazz Studies at Furman. A scholar and performer, 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. He holds a doctorate from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Northwestern University.

About Steve Watson
Furman Jazz Studies and Jazz Guitar lecturer Steve Watson has performed all over the world. As a member of the University of Miami Concert Jazz Band, he toured Switzerland, Cyprus, Syria, Jordon, Egypt, and Tunisia. He was a member of The Bruce Hornsby Band from 1978-84. After moving to Los Angeles, he became a studio guitarist for television, movies and records. His credits include Hill Street Blues, Magnum P.I., The A-Team, L.A. Law, Simon and Simon, and Quantum Leap, among others. Watson served as an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California from 1981-90, and as lecturer at the University of Miami in the late 70s. He is president of WatsonWood Music, Inc., and director of jazz studies at The Fine Arts Center. His current band, Watson’s Riddle, released a CD on Palmetto Records (Sony) in 2011. He holds a master’s from the University of Miami and a bachelor’s from Newberry College.

 

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