Jazz Ensemble and Combos present concert Feb. 15

The Furman University Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combos will present their winter concert Friday, Feb. 15, at 8 p.m. in Daniel Recital Hall on campus.

The concert is open to the public. Tickets for the Cultural Life Program event are $5 and are available at the door.

Furman Associate Professor of Saxophone and Director of Jazz Studies Matt Olson conducts the concert that showcases the music of Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Michael Mossman, Frank Mantooth and more.

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

Associate Professor of Saxophone and Director of Jazz Studies Matt Olson

About Matt Olson
A native of Racine, Wisconsin, 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.