World-renowned Trumpeter Dave Douglas to Perform at UA

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Don’t tell Dave Douglas to stop tooting his own horn. Douglas, a world-renowned jazz musician, has been “blissing out” on the trumpet for so long that it’s a way of life, and now he’s coming to The University of Alabama for a pair of concerts and a master class during the month of October.

The Jazz Ensemble will feature Douglas in its concert Thursday, Oct. 2, at 7:30 p.m. in the UA School of Music Concert Hall with a master class to be announced.

Friday Oct. 3, at 7:30 p.m., Douglas will appear again in the same venue with his quintet featuring a lineup of musicians, including Troy Roberts, tenor saxophone; Bobby Avey, piano; Linda Oh, bass; and Anwar Marshall, drums.

Douglas is a prolific trumpeter, composer and educator from New York City. His contributions to improvised music have garnered distinguished recognition, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, an Aaron Copland award and two Grammy nominations.

Since 2005, Douglas has operated his own record label, Greenleaf Music, releasing his own recordings as well as albums by other artists in the jazz idiom.

“Dave Douglas’s contributions to music as a performer, composer, and educator make him one of the most important artists in the jazz community,” said Christopher Kozak, director of jazz studies at UA. “He is one of these musicians that always has something interesting to say in both his writing and his playing. His compositions are unique, and he has his own improvisational voice all while paying homage to his influences.

“His performances have always been exciting and inspirational to me, and I hope the students and our community will feel the same way when he shares his art with us on his visit. He is truly one of the musicians that is helping this music forge ahead.”

Douglas has produced more than 50 records, including all titles at Greenleaf. Douglas has held several posts as an educator and impresario. From 2002 to 2012, he served as artistic director of the Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music at The Banff Centre in Canada.

He is a co-founder and director of the Festival of New Trumpet Music, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2012. In 2013, he begins his second year as International Jazz Artist-in-Residence at the Royal Academy of Music in London and launches his own Jazz Workshop, dedicated to enriching the musical experiences of younger players.

Sonic Frontiers is a cutting-edge concert series of innovative and experimental music, now in its fourth season, that enriches the cultural life of West Alabama and invites creative exchange between world-class performers of adventurous music, students, and the greater community through public performances and lively post-concert discussions. For more information, phone Dr. Andrew Raffo Dewar at 205/348-9928 or visit: http://sonicfrontiers.ua.edu.

You can buy tickets to these concerts by visiting uamusic.tix.com.

UA’s School of Music is a part of the College of Arts & Sciences, the University’s largest division and the largest liberal arts college in the state. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships, Truman Scholarships and memberships on the USA Today Academic All American Team.