The West Virginia University Potomac State College/Community Jazz Ensemble will present its Spring Jazz Concert on Wednesday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the Church-McKee Arts Center. The band, which is under the direction of Fred Kesner, rehearses weekly at the college and is comprised of the area’s finest jazz musicians.
Special guest artist for this concert is Beau Hartman of Cumberland. A very talented and versatile vocalist, Hartman will perform a special arrangement of Billy Strayhorn’s Lush Life and will also swing with the band on a Gordon Goodwin arrangement of Too Close for Comfort.
The band will also feature two jazz arrangements of songs by Santana and Chicago. Les Hooper’s Intersecting Lines is a unique composition that will add a slightly classical flavor to the jazz chart. Another interesting piece is Lift Every Voice, arranged by PSC bassist Jim Roderick, and, as usual, the band will feature many talented soloists.
To add a little something for the big band era enthusiasts, several tunes from that era will be presented to conclude the concert.
The concert is free and the public is encouraged to attend and support the live performance of jazz and big band music in our community.