Eisenhower Auditorium was filled with swinging jazz on Wednesday, Oct. 28, as the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band hit the stage in the name of late jazz trumpet master. Prior to the performance, high school and Penn State jazzers had the opportunity to learn from some of these masters during master classes organized by the Center for the Performing Arts as part of their educational outreach mission.
The group features numerous prominent members of the jazz scene and veterans of Gillespie's band prior to his 1993 passing. Featured members include James Moody, Jimmy Heath, Roy Hargrove, Cyrus Chestnut, Steve Davis, Roberta Gambarini, Antonio Hart, John Lee and Terell Stafford. The ensemble is on its 2009 world tour, with its next stop in Belgrade, Serbia, on Oct. 30.
To view photos of the event, visit http://live.psu.edu/stilllife/2172 and for photos from the high school master class at the State College Area High School, visit http://live.psu.edu/stilllife/2169 online.