Jazz Ensemble and Combos perform with special guest Simerly April 6

The Furman University Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combos will present their spring concert Friday, April 6 at 8 p.m. in Daniel Recital Hall on the Furman campus.

Milligan College (Tenn.) Professor Emeritus of Music Rick Simerly

The CLP concert, which is open to the public, features jazz trombonist and Professor Emeritus of Music at Milligan College (Tenn.) Rick Simerly. Admission is $5 at the door.

Conducted by Furman Professor of Jazz Studies Matt Olson, the performance includes music by Mike Crotty; Billy Strayhorn; Eddie de Lange and Jimmy Van Heusen; Matt Olson; Miles Davis; John Brown and Charlie Parker.

Guest artist Simerly is described as “… one of the most exciting and consistently creative trombonists in jazz today.” He has toured with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra under the direction of David Baker and has played in the bands of Tommy Dorsey, Woody Herman, Nelson Riddle, Les Elgart, Bob Crosby, Jimmy Dorsey, Buddy Morrow, and the last band of Charlie Spivak.

He has performed with jazz artists Billy Taylor, James Moody, Slide Hampton, Rufus Reid, Jon Faddis, Bobby Shew, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Milt Hinton, Dave McKenna, Butch Miles, Adam Nussbaum, Jake Hanna, Tommy Newsom, Joe Wilder and many others.

Simerly has toured and performed with entertainers such as Frank Sinatra Jr., Bob Hope, Red Skelton, Danny Thomas, Vic Damone, Lou Rawls, Gladys Knight, The Temptations, The Spinners, The Four Tops, The Commodores and The O’Jays.

His solo CD “Simple/Complexity” has received rave reviews from critics and performers throughout the United States. His latest CD, “Obscurity,” is on the Double-Time Jazz label and features Eric Alexander, David Hazeltine, Lynn Seaton, Steve Davis and Scott Wendholt.

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