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TROMBONIST BENNY POWELL TO PERFORM JAZZ SERIES FINALE Benny Powell, one of the most versatile trombonists on the jazz scene, is set to perform with the William Paterson University Jazz Ensemble on Sunday, November 7 in the final concert of the fall 1999 Jazz Room Series. The concert will begin at 4 p.m. in the Shea Center for Performing Arts on the campus in Wayne. Tickets are available in advance or on the day of the performance at $9 standard and $6 for senior citizens, non-William Paterson students and William Paterson faculty, staff and alumni. William Paterson students may attend free of charge. Powell is a world-class musician who draws upon his vast experience, deep roots in the jazz tradition, and a driving creativity to expand the horizons of modern music. He has appeared recently on such standout recordings as Randy Weston's "The Spirits of Our Ancestors," Benny Carter's "Harlem Renaissance," and Jimmy Heath's "Little Man Big Man." His own album, "Why Don't You Say Yes, Sometimes?" features his original compositions. Dedicated to keeping the jazz tradition alive,
Powell devotes much of his time to a broad band of educational
endeavors. He regularly presents an oral/musical history of
African-American music, "Jazz Stories," and has taught
at Barry Harris' Jazz Cultural Theater, Jazzmobile, Long Island
University, and the New School. He is a much sought-after private
teacher, and conducts clinics and residencies at colleges and
universities. Born in New Orleans, Powell worked with Lionel Hampton and enjoyed national attention during his 12 years with the Count Basie Orchestra. He worked with Duke Ellington and sat in the Chuck Conners chair when the Ellington Orchestra recorded with vocalist Tony Watkins. Powell participated in the monumental "Battle Royale" with Duke and Basie, and played with the Ellington band on several dates during the 1960s. After he left Basie, Powell became a fixture on the New York scene, working in studios, nightclubs and numerous Broadway shows. He also was one of the first musicians to perform regularly on television, as a member of the Merv Griffin Show band. Prior to the concert, Powell will be the guest for "Sittin' In," an informal, hosted talk that begins at 3 p.m. in room 101 of Shea Center. Admission is free to all Jazz Room ticketholders. Launched in the spring of 1978, William Paterson's Jazz Room Series has earned a reputation for presenting concerts by eminent musicians in the jazz world. The series has been awarded numerous grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and just received its third consecutive Citation of Excellence from the Council for its cultural contribution to the state. For additional information, please call William
Paterson's Shea Center Box Office at 973-720-2371.
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