Alumna to perform with the Western Jazz Quartet

Contact: Meredith Bradford
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Western Jazz Quartet

KALAMAZOO—The Western Jazz Quartet, a resident faculty ensemble in WMU's School of Music, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18, in the Dalton Center Recital Hall as part of the Wednesday evening concert series presented by the Bullock Performance Institute. The program will feature several works and arrangements by Johnaye Kendrick, a WMU alumna in vocal jazz. This event is also listed under the Distinguished Alumni Series of concerts organized as part the celebration of the School of Music's 100th anniversary.

The performance will be preceded by a 7 p.m. discussion hosted by Dr. Dan Jacobson, WMU professor of music. Tickets are $12 general admission, $10 for seniors and $5 for students, and are available from Miller Auditorium at millerauditorium.com/som or by calling (269) 387-2300 or (800) 228-9858.

Western Jazz Quartet

Formed in 1974, the quartet combines performing and teaching with uncommon success as they promote jazz music and jazz education through a very active schedule of tours, concerts and workshops. The ensemble includes Andrew Rathbun, saxophones; Jeremy Siskind, piano; Tom Knific, double bass; and Keith Hall, drums.

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Johnaye Kendrick

Johnaye Kendrick

A San Diego native, Kendrick received a bachelor's degree in jazz studies from WMU in 2005. She received a master’s degree in jazz studies from Loyola University and an artist's diploma from the Thelonious Monk Institute. Kendrick has worked with many jazz greats, including Rufus Reid, Fred Hersch, Terence Blanchard, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Danilo Perez, Kurt Rosenwinkel and Brian Blade. She has performed with the Nicholas Payton Sextet, Ellis Marsalis Quartet and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra. Kendrick is currently an assistant professor of jazz voice at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Washington.

Bullock Music Performance Institute

The Dalton Wed@7:30pm: Live and Interactive! concert series is presented by the WMU School of Music under the auspices of the Bullock Music Performance Institute. Established in the fall of 1985 and renamed in 1988 in honor of its founder, the institute has presented events ranging from formal evening concerts to daytime educational outreach events for local audiences and students of all ages.

For more information about the Wednesday evening concert series, call (269) 387-4704 or (269) 387-4678, or visit wmich.edu/music.