Grammy-Nominated Yellowjackets Jazz Quartet to Perform at EIU
Feb-02-2009
The Yellowjackets Jazz Quartet, which is up for two 2009 Grammys, will help Eastern Illinois University's jazz festival celebrate its golden anniversary with "A Valentine’s Day Concert."
The concert is set for 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Dvorak Concert Hall. Seating is reserved; tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and EIU employees, and $5 for EIU students.
As another highlight of the 50th annual EIU Jazz Festival, Yellowjackets saxophonist Bob Mintzer will perform with the EIU Jazz Ensemble in a free concert at 5 p.m. Feb. 14 in the Grand Ballroom, MLK Jr. Union. Mintzer also leads the Bob Mintzer Big Band and performs with the New York Philharmonic.
Since gaining public and critical acclaim with its first album in 1981, the Yellowjackets Jazz Quartet has continued to make waves in the jazz world.
The quartet has been nominated for 2009 Grammy Awards in two categories: Best Contemporary Jazz Album for "Lifecycle" featuring Mike Stern; and Best Instrumental Composer for Russell Ferrante's composition "Claire's Closet," which is on the "Lifecycle" album.
"The basic foundation, that initial spark of innovation, is still there," said bassist Jimmy Haslip. "We're very open-minded and are always looking to the horizon to see what's up ahead. We're very dedicated to our craft, and we're constantly trying to progress. That ultimately is a motivating factor in keeping a band like this going. It's a laboratory, in essence, where some great experiments have taken place."
The Yellowjackets' performance is a Consolidated Communications Artist Series program of the New and Emerging Artists Series.
For Doudna tickets and information, or to arrange accommodations for persons with special needs, contact Doudna Fine Arts Patron Services (217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu) or visit the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office.
The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.
The Doudna is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue on the EIU campus. Free parking is available in the any of the university lots found at the corner of Ninth and Garfield and immediately south of the center.
