Los Angeles jazz trombonist Alex Iles, who has performed and recorded with musical greats of the past three decades will be the star attraction at this year’s TCU Jazz Festival Friday and Saturday.

 

Iles will be featured at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 25, sharing the PepsiCo Recital Hall stage with TCU Faculty Jazz Combo, Jazz Trombone Ensemble, and Jim Milan’s “Tribute to Matty Matlock.” Tickets are $10 at the door.

 

All day Saturday (March 26) is devoted to classes and workshops with 20 top high school and middle school jazz ensembles.

 

The Saturday night event is at 7:30 p.m. in Ed Landreth Auditorium with Alex Iles, TCU’s two Big Bands directly by Joey Carter and Curt Wilson, and award presentations to the top student groups. Tickets are $10 at the door.

 

Iles began his musical career while a student at UCLA, as a member of the Disneyland All American College Band, and has gone on to enjoy his musical life as an in-demand trombonist/lowbrass performer.

 

Among the varied artists with whom Iles has performed and/or recorded are: Joe Cocker, James Horner, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Alan Jackson, Zubin Mehta, The Tonight Show Band, Hans Zimmer, Johnny Mathis, Lalo Shiffrin, Natalie Cole, Danny Elfman, Ray Charles, Trevor Rabin, Harry Connick Jr., Robbie Williams, Henry Mancini, Josh Grobin, John Zorn, Terence Blanchard, John Williams, Fallout Boy, Johnny Mandel and Prince.

 

This is the 34th year for the annual Jazz Festival which has a rich history of bringing in the greats in the field to perform alongside the University's own talented jazz ensembles.... helping train aspiring young musicians during the Saturday session and blowing audiences out of their seats at the awards concert that night.

 

The lineup for the weekend:

 

Friday, March 25 – L.A. jazz trombonist Alex Iles with TCU Faculty Jazz Combo, Jazz Trombone Ensemble, and Jim Milan’s “Tribute to Matty Matlock,” 7:30 p.m., PepsiCo Recital Hall, $10 admission at the door.

 

Saturday, March 26 - 28 area high school and middle school jazz ensembles, 10 a.m.-
5 p.m., Ed Landreth Auditorium, PepsiCo Recital Hall. Free.

 

Saturday, March 26    - Awards concert with TCU Big Bands and guest trombone artist Alex Iles, 7:30 p.m., Ed Landreth Auditorium, $10 admission at the door.
For more information, call ext. 7640 or visit the Web site at www.music.tcu.edu.