Australian native James Morrison, who has performed for two U.S. presidents and the Queen of England will now join the UCF Jazz Professors for a concert at the University of Central Florida’s Visual Arts Building auditorium, on Tuesday, Jan. 26.
The concert, hosted by the UCF School of Performing Arts will be a medley of songs decided right before the show. This technique, known as “calling tune”, is common among all jazz musicians according to UCF trumpet professor, John Almeida. A musical virtuoso, James Morrison is adept with the piano, trumpet, saxophone, double bass and all the brass instruments. As to which instruments he will play, it’s a surprise that audience members should thoroughly enjoy.
“We don’t know how many instruments Mr. Morrison will bring to the concert. He has a steamer trunk full of instruments and you can never tell which ones he’s going to bring out,” Almeida says.
One thing is for certain: the UCF Jazz Professors are no strangers to the music business. Group members Jeff Rupert, Michael Wilkinson, Per Danielsson, Richard Drexler, Bobby Koelble, and Marty Morell are all music faculty members at the university and are active performers in the jazz industry. In addition to their solo works, together as a group they create albums that consistently reach the top 50 in the jazz charts. Most recently, their album Do That Again reached #6 in JazzWeek.
As to why people should come to the concert, “How many people do you know that can hop on a plane to Australia to see James Morrison? He’s Australia’s national treasure, and he wanted to come here to play!” John Almeida says.
The tickets may be purchased in advance online or from the UCF School of Performing Arts Box Office and are $20.00 for general admission, $10.00 with a student ID, and free for students with UCF IDs. Doors will open at 8 p.m.
For more information about the UCF School of Performing Arts, visit http://performingarts.cah.ucf.edu
Event at a glance:
James Morrison and the UCF Jazz Professors
Description: Australian jazz musician James Morrison and the UCF Jazz Professors perform jazz selections
Date: Tuesday, January 26 at 8:00 p.m.
Price: $20.00 for general admission, $10.00 with a student ID, and free for students with UCF IDs
Location: University of Central Florida; Visual Arts Building Auditorium
4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando
407-823-1500
http://www.performingarts.cah.ucf.edu
The School of Performing Arts at the University of Central Florida comprises the Music and Theatre departments. In addition to year-round performances and teaching on the UCF campus, the School presents performances and outreach in cooperation with our community partners, which include the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orlando Repertory Theatre, and the Orlando Shakespeare Theater. For more information about attending performances visit http://performingarts.cah.ucf.edu
America’s Partnership University: The University of Central Florida, the nation’s second-largest university with nearly 60,000 students, has grown in size, quality, diversity and reputation in its first 50 years. Today, the university offers more than 200 degree programs at its main campus in Orlando and more than a dozen other locations. UCF is an economic engine attracting and supporting industries vital to the region’s future while providing students with real-world experiences that help them succeed after graduation. For more information, visit http://today.ucf.edu.