MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University alum and saxophonist Jesús Santandreu is returning to campus along with students and faculty of the Department of Music on March 28 as part of a series of concerts and clinics for the annual Illinois Jacquet Jazz Festival.

“This year’s festival features innovative performers and educators that will be once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for jazz students and audiences to experience,” said Director of Jazz Studies Jamey Simmons.

Santandreu will join MTSU’s Jazz Ensemble I at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, in Hinton Music Hall of the Wright Music Building, located at 1439 Faulkinberry Drive.

A searchable campus parking map is available at https://bit.ly/2026parkingmap.

“The evening concert will showcase Jesús Santandreu’s amazing abilities as a saxophonist and composer alongside our student artists,” said Simmons. 

Tickets for the March 28 night concert are $10 for the public and free for MTSU students, faculty and staff.  Discounts for area band students and educators are also available.  To reserve tickets, call 615-898-2724 or email James.Simmons@mtsu.edu.

The concert caps the daylong educational festival for middle, high school and university-level jazz students.

The educational component of the day features adjudicated performances by 13 groups, including: MTSU combos from 9 a.m. to noon; Jazz Ensemble II, directed by Don Aliquo, at 11:30 a.m.; a performance by the Establishment Big Band at 1 p.m.; and a performance and Q&A session by MTSU jazz faculty at 2:15 p.m.

Drum legend Chester Thompson, an alumnus of bands like Weather Report and Genesis, will also work with combos in the Saunders Fine Arts Room 101.

Groups will receive comments and ratings from faculty members and Nashville area professionals to help sharpen skills and train the next generation of jazz artists.  All daytime performances are free and open to the public.

On Sunday, March 29, Santandreu returns to campus for a free jazz clinic in Hinton Hall.

“He’s going to return to MTSU to share with us his gifts as a renowned educator as well,” said Simmons of the jazz clinic.

Santandreu’s appearance is made possible by a grant from the MTSU Distinguished Lecture Fund. 

About Jesús Santandreu 

Santandreu is considered one of the most versatile and active figures on the Spanish jazz and symphonic scenes.

His career, forged on both sides of the Atlantic, is backed by an elite academic background, including an undergraduate degree from Berklee College of Music, a master’s degree in conducting from MTSU, and a master’s degree in musical research from the International University of Valencia.

As a composer, his compositional voice transcends borders, with a catalog of symphonic works premiered and performed in Brazil, the United States, Portugal, Germany, China, Taiwan and Colombia.

About the festival

Dedicated to the memory of tenor saxophonist Illinois Jacquet (commonly pronounced Jaq-KET), the MTSU Jazz Illinois Jacquet Jazz Festival seeks to educate, inspire and entertain audiences in the Middle Tennessee area. For a complete schedule of concerts and clinics, see https://music.mtsu.edu/jazzfest/. 

— DeAnn Hays (deann.hays@mtsu.edu)