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Jazz Orchestra performs with guest Danny Barber

Oct. 3, 2005

KALAMAZOO--The Western Michigan University Jazz Orchestra, with guest trumpeter Danny Barber, will perform a diverse program of Jazz Big Band repertoire including works from Count Basie, Woody Herman, John Fedchock, and Kenny Wheeler at 8:15 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 6, in the Dalton Center Recital Hall.

Tickets are $10 and $5 for students and seniors citizens, and are available through the Miller Auditorium Ticket Office (269) 387-2300 or toll free (800) 228-9858. Remaining tickets will be available at the door.

Guest artist Barber will be featured on a number of selections. Barber is known throughout the music industry for his in-depth sound, his power and musicality, and his ability to utilize all registers of the trumpet. At age 18, he was accepted into the jazz ensemble of the United States Army Field Band and toured the United States for three years. After leaving the military he was again recruited, this time by the Tommy Dorsey Band. From there he went on to play with the Maynard Ferguson Band for three years.

Barber's playing credentials as a freelance trumpeter include: recording dates and performances with the Chicago, St. Louis, and Utah symphony orchestras; a performance as a featured soloist at the 2002 International Trumpet Guild Conference in Manchester, England; appearances as Principal Trumpet with Newton Wayland of the Midwest Pops for ten years; numerous radio and television commercials; several Broadway shows including "Les Miserables" and "Phantom of the Opera;" and recordings with CBS Records, Maynard Ferguson, Styx, Chicago City Lights Orchestra, Brass Band of Battle Creek, and the Buddy Childers Big Band.

Barber can also be heard on four of arranger/composer Frank Mantooth's albums and on the sound track from the movie "A League of Their Own." His jazz and pop appearances included performances with some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, Nancy Wilson, Kenny Rogers, Doc Severinsen, Natalie Cole, Joe Williams, Clark Terry, Styx, Anthony Quinn, Henry Mancini, Joel Grey, Ann Margaret, Tommy Tune and Louie Bellson.

Media contact: Kevin West, (269) 387-4678, kevin.west@wmich.edu

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