Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combos perform Oct. 20

The Furman University Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combos will present their fall concert Friday, Oct. 20 at 8 p.m. in Daniel Recital Hall on the Furman campus.

Hosted by the Furman Department of Music during the university’s Homecoming weekend, the concert is open to the public. Tickets are $5 and 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 Ensemble and Combos will perform the music of Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie and Horace Silver.

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

Matt Olson

About Matt Olson
A native of Racine, Wis., Matt Olson is Associate Professor of Saxophone and Director of Jazz Studies at Furman. A scholar and performer, he has performed with 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 debut CD Vortex was released in 2007. Olson is co-founder and co-leader of Unhinged Sextet, a collaborative ensemble featuring distinguished jazz educators from around the country. With this ensemble he has released two projects—Clarity (2015) and Don’t Blink (2017). Olson holds a doctorate from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Northwestern University.

Steve Watson

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 featuring legendary pianist Chuck Leavell on Palmetto Records (Sony) in 2011. He holds a master’s from the University of Miami and a bachelor’s from Newberry College.