The public is invited to attend a jazz concert at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4, in Esber Recital Hall on Penn State's University Park campus, a part of the Penn State trombone studio's annual "Trombone Labor Days."
The concert will feature performances by Penn State trombone professor Mark L. Lusk, resident jazz trombone quartet Slide Advantage, alumni guest trombonist Bryan Powell, and current members of the Penn State trombone studio. Other guest performers include pianist Steve Rudolf, bassist Joshua Davis, Penn State’s new director of jazz studies Marko Marcinko, and saxophone professor David B. Stambler.
The second half of the program will feature performances by Mike Davison from the University of Richmond (VA) and the Latin Jazz Messengers. For many years, Dr. Davison has provided a Latin jazz – performance “school" for his University of Richmond students, performing Latin jazz with them in clubs, concerts, and on national and international tours. The ensemble mixes sounds of American jazz with Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian rhythms.
Admission is free. This concert is also available on livestream at cwstudios.
Distinguished trumpeter Michael Davison is a legendary performer, respected professor, published composer and ethnomusicologist. Davison’s love of music has shaped his life and career. He is in demand across the country as a classical and jazz performer and educator. As a performer, he has given jazz and classical recitals all over the United States as well as in parts of France, the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa, China and Cuba. Davison has recorded four jazz CDs as both a leader and sideman. His classical CD, Fenster, received rave reviews from the International Trumpet Guild Journal. Widely considered an expert in Cuban music, he performs and teaches Cuban music at the University of Richmond and worldwide.
Davison also serves as trumpet instructor and head of the brass area at the world-renowned Interlochen International Arts Camp in Interlochen, Michigan. Along with producer Ed Tillett, he completed "Cuba: Rhythm in Motion," a documentary tracing the musical genealogy between Cuban rhythms and American jazz. The film premiered on the campus of the University of Richmond in 2007 and has been shown around the world, including Spain, Australia, and Mexico. Davison is presently writing a book on Cuban folk music.
Joshua Davis is a bassist, composer, arranger, and educator. His internationally-acclaimed performances as an orchestral and jazz bassist include concerts at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the National Concert Hall in Taiwan, Blue Note Jakarta, Bimhuis Amsterdam, and Opera Marseille, and hundreds of others.
Josh joined the faculty at Susquehanna University as the director of jazz studies in 2006. He was a full-time faculty member and the director of jazz studies at Towson University between 2002 and 2006. Prior to that, he was an awarded leader of curriculum development at Berklee College of Music where, as one of the youngest faculty members, he taught for six years.
Steve Rudolph has had an inspiring career in his 50 years of professional music making. Jazz Improv magazine states, “Rudolph is a savvy, swinging, glimmering heavyweight… ...simply outstanding.” With eleven acclaimed CDs as a leader, he has served as producer, arranger and performer on numerous recordings, and his vast experience encompasses concert performances with many renowned jazz masters. He has toured throughout the U.S., India, Europe, Canada, Russia and the Caribbean.
Since moving to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1978, Rudolph has been largely responsible for the growth and development of the thriving jazz scene in central Pennsylvania. His devotion to the art of jazz inspired him to found the Central PA Friends of Jazz, now in its 36th successful year of monthly activity including concerts, youth band, jazz camp, and the annual Central PA Jazz Festival. Since 2012, he has served as the executive director of CPFJ. He was the recipient of the 2002 Harrisburg Arts Award for dedication to the arts and community service.
During his years in the music industry, Marko Marcinko has worked as a freelance musician playing drum set, percussion, piano/keyboards, bass guitar and trombone. He has also served as a studio session player, arranger, musical director and producer for numerous commercial jingles, indie-films, off-Broadway, club and theater engagements.
Born in Archbald, Pennsylvania, Marcinko studied technique with drumming master Joe Morello and continued his training at the University of Miami where he studied classical, jazz, brazilian and afro-cuban styles. He came onto the international music scene in 1994 while touring and recording with trumpet legend Maynard Ferguson. Over the years, Marko has played with jazz greats Joe Henderson, Phil Woods, Clark Terry, Bob Dorough, and Red Rodney, among others. Other notable collaborations include work with Jon Secada, Joan Rivers, Connie Francis, Don Rickles, Melba Moore, Juan Gabriel, Clay Aiken, Bob Newhart and Nicol Williamson. Currently, Marcinko tours and records with jazz saxophone icon Dave Liebman, as well as the Organik Vibe Trio featuring vibraphone and marimba master Dave Samuels.