Ronald Carter, a saxophonist who has performed with musical greats including Lou Rawls, Lena Horne and The Temptations, will be the guest artist for the annual TJC Jazz Festival.
He will share his knowledge and considerable performance skills with young musicians from area schools during Tyler Junior College’s annual Jazz Festival, set Thursday and Friday, March 2 and 3, in Liberty Hall, located at 103 E. Erwin, in downtown Tyler.
Carter will perform with the TJC Jazz Ensembles at 7:30 p.m. each night in Liberty Hall.
Admission is free, and the public is invited to attend.
Carter, a professor emeritus from Northern Illinois University, is also a consultant for the Essentially Ellington Jazz Competition.
“It’s always a big thrill for us to bring someone of Ronald’s caliber to come and work with our students,” said Heather Mensch, TJC assistant director of bands and professor of low brass. Mensch is also director of TJC Jazz Ensemble 1.
Ronald Carter
“The students get an idea of what it’s like to be a real, working musician by learning from someone who’s spent years in the profession, honing his craft.”
TJC Jazz Ensemble 1 students and their hometowns are: Daniel Armstrong, Bullard; Paul Arriola, Tyler; Brittney Baxter, Jacksonville; Robin Bibeau, Whitehouse; Darren Castilaw, Lufkin; Ethan Day, Arp; Joseph Garza, Tatum; Devin Gilbert, Tyler; Jared Hamilton, Arlington; Ben Jordan, Tyler; Corey McCowin, Mesquite; John MaCoy, Canton; Peter Merts, Springtown; Luis Moreno, Springtown; Raul Padilla, Dallas; Keith Williams, Mesquite; and Nick Wilkerson, Van.
TJC Jazz Ensemble 2 is under the direction of Dr. Steven Meier, assistant director of bands and professor of woodwinds.
TJC Jazz Ensemble 2 students and their hometowns are: Robin Bibeau, Whitehouse; Sara Brown, Hawkins; Justin Cooks, Tyler; Michael Craig, Van; ; Darrion Davis, Houston; Isaac Fergerson, Henderson; Jaryus Ivery, Sulphur Springs; Rakeithian Jones, Kaufman; Mallory Keetch, Mansfield; Hannah Kimble, Malakoff; Kaylon Minnick-Key, Tyler; Michael Murphy, Springtown; Eduardo Ortiz, Tyler; Logan Putz, Rhome; Adrian Sanchez, Cleveland; Bethany Walker, Brownsboro; David Winfield, Dallas and Cody Woods, Nevada.
The TJC Jazz Combo, which will warm up the crowd before each night’s performance, is made up of a smaller group of jazz students, including: Daniel Armstrong, Robin Bibeau, Ethan Day, Joseph Garza, Jared Hamilton, Corey McCowin, Raul Padilla and Keith Williams.
The festival will include music clinics and performances by area middle and high school jazz bands. Each group will perform for about 20 minutes, and then Carter will join them onstage and offer a critique of their performance.
Festival schedule:
Wednesday, March 1, Liberty Hall
• 6 p.m.: Robert E. Lee High School Jazz Ensemble 2
• 7 p.m.: Robert E. Lee Jazz Ensemble 1
• 8 p.m.: Robert E. Lee Jazz Combo
Thursday, March 2, Liberty Hall
• 8 a.m.: The University of Texas at Tyler Jazz Ensemble
• 9 a.m.: Three Lakes Middle School Jazz Ensemble
• 10 a.m.: Chapel Hill HS Jazz Ensemble
• 11 a.m.: Hogg MS Jazz Ensemble
• 1 p.m.: Whitehouse HS Jazz Ensemble
• 2 p.m.: Springtown HS Jazz Ensemble 2
• 3 p.m.: Springtown HS Jazz Ensemble 1
• 4 p.m.: Henderson HS Jazz Ensemble
• 7 p.m.: Pre-concert performance by TJC Jazz Combo
• 7:30 p.m.: TJC Jazz Ensembles with Carter
Friday, March 3, Liberty Hall
• 8 a.m.: Kaufman HS Jazz Ensemble
• 9 a.m.: Boulter MS Jazz Ensemble
• 10 a.m.: Quitman HS Jazz Ensemble
• 11 a.m.: Redwater HS Jazz Ensemble
• 1 p.m.: Mount Vernon HS Jazz Ensemble
• 2 p.m.: Mount Pleasant HS Jazz Ensemble
• 3 p.m.: Rockwall HS Jazz Ensemble 2
• 4 p.m.: Rockwall HS Jazz Ensemble 1
• 7 p.m.: Pre-concert performance by TJC Jazz Combo
• 7:30 p.m.: TJC Jazz Ensembles with Carter
For more on TJC bands, go to www.tjc.edu/band.