MURFREESBORO, TN (WGNS) - Middle Tennessee State University’s premier student big band, Jazz Ensemble I, is tuning up for a night of classic swing, modern charts, and everything in between. The free concert is set for 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19, in Hinton Music Hall inside the Wright Music Building at 1439 Faulkinberry Drive. For those planning their route, a parking map is available online.
The evening promises a wide sweep of big band styles, from the timeless energy of traditional swing to the more contemporary sounds shaping today’s jazz scene. It’s a program designed to show off both the tight ensemble work that big band music demands and the individual improvisation that keeps jazz fresh and alive.
“This concert gives our students the opportunity to engage deeply with the big band tradition while performing music by composers who have shaped the sound of modern jazz,” said Jamey Simmons, director of Jazz Studies.
The repertoire includes works by some of the most influential names in jazz arranging and composition—Thad Jones, Bob Mintzer, Duke Ellington, Donald Brown, and Bill Holman—along with a new arrangement by MTSU student Daniel Kuk. Simmons says the mix is intentional, offering students a musical challenge while honoring the legacy of the genre’s great innovators. It’s the kind of program that longtime jazz fans will appreciate, but it’s also welcoming for newcomers curious about big band music.
This concert is part of the MTSU Jazz Artist Series, which continues March 5 and again on March 28 during the annual Illinois Jacquet Jazz Festival. The festival features a full day of school ensembles, jam sessions, educational clinics, and a 5:30 p.m. headline performance with an international guest artist.
For more information, contact James.Simmons@mtsu.edu or call 615‑898‑2724.
