Jazz Combos in Concert Dec. 4

The Furman University Jazz Combos will present a concert Sunday, Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. in Daniel Recital Hall on campus.

Presented by the Furman Department of Music, the concert is free and open to the public, and is part of Furman’s Cultural Life Program.

Coaching the Jazz Combos are Furman University Professor of Music Matt Olson and music faculty member Steve Watson. They will lead student combos in music by John Coltrane, Victor Wooten, Johnny Mercer, and Antonio Carlos Jobim, and selections from the Great American Songbook.

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.