The Bucknell Jazz Band will play a concert with jazz low brass guest artist Jennifer Wharton on Friday, March 29, at 7:30 p.m. in the Weis Center for the Performing Arts as part of the Jazz at Bucknell series. This performance is free and open to the public.
Wharton is a low brass specialist based in New York City. Though getting her start classically, she has deep roots in jazz, commercial, chamber and Broadway music. These days, Wharton can be found performing in King Kong: Alive on Broadway, but she’s also held positions at Beautiful, The Carole King Musical, The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, Jekyll and Hyde, Scandalous, Wonderland, 9 to 5 and Curtains, as well as performing as a substitute in over a dozen other Broadway productions.
The Bucknell Jazz Band offers students of all majors and academic interests the opportunity to experience modern and historically important literature in a traditional big band environment. Under the direction of music professor and department chair Barry Long, performances both on and off campus throughout the year build upon focused ensemble rehearsal and concepts of improvisation. The ensemble commissions new works annually from established and emerging composers such as Fred Sturm, Dean Sorenson, Rick Hirsch, Russell Scarbrough, Kevin Lowe and Jonathan Ragonese.