Middle Tennessee State University‘s School of Music will celebrate its own jazz greats Thursday, Sept. 28, when professors step onstage to swing into the 24th year of the popular Jazz Artist Series.  

A quintet of the school’s veteran faculty musicians will perform with their newest colleague, bassist Jack Aylor, Sept. 28 in Hinton Hall inside the Wright Music Building.  

“Each one of these colleagues of mine has a special approach to the music, whether it’s playing, composing or arranging,” says Jamey Simmons, professor of jazz trumpet and director of MTSU’s Jazz Studies Program.  

“It’s exciting to play with such a diverse set of people and make good music.” 

Tickets for the Sept. 28 concert, which begins at 7:30 p.m. in Hinton Hall inside the Wright Music Building at 1439 Faulkinberry Drive, are $10 each. Admission is free for MTSU students, faculty and staff with a current ID. 

Discounts are also available for area band students and educators. 

Tickets also will be for available for purchase by cash or check in the Wright Music Building lobby from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 28. 

Jack Aylor is a performing bassist in Nashville, Tennessee. During his time in New York, he studied with bassists Ron Carter, Ben Wolfe, Ugonna Okegwo, and James Genus. He has performed with artists including Delfeayo Marsalis, Chester Thompson, Rahsaan Barber, Roland Barber, Don Sickler, Dave Kikoski, Marc Devine, and Alex Hoffman.

“Jack will bring his unique voice to the group as an accompanist, soloist and composer/arranger in this special concert,” said Simmons. “You’ll hear firsthand why Jack is one of the most in-demand players in Nashville and why we’re thrilled to have him here.”  

Aylor will take the stage for the performance with Simmons and their fellow MTSU faculty jazz artists Don Aliquo on saxophone, Pat Coil on piano, Chip Henderson on guitar, Brian Mueller on drums and vibraphone, and Julia Rich on vocals. 

Several Jazz Studies graduate students will also be included in the set: saxophonist Zechariah “Zicky” Hart and drummer Miles Damaso.  Selections for the program include original compositions by Julia Rich, Jim Hall and Pat Coil, as well as jazz standards by Jerome Kern and Thelonious Monk.    

The MTSU Jazz Artist Series in the university’s School of Music brings internationally renowned jazz artists to campus for performances and educational workshops every semester.  

Past guest artists have included some of the most important musicians and educators in jazz history alongside MTSU alumni on their way to making jazz history, too. 

For more information about MTSU’s Jazz Artist Series, please visit https://www.mtsu.edu/music/jazzseries.php.   

For details on programs of study and special events in the MTSU School of Music in the College of Liberal Arts, visit https://www.mtsumusic.com or call 615-898-2493.

— Jamey Simmons (James.Simmons@mtsu.edu)