MTSU Illinois Jacquet Jazz Fest features Jazz Ensemble, saxophonist Miguel Zenón March 29

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Saxophonist Miguel Zenón will share some of his notes on making beautiful music along with Middle Tennessee State University faculty members and MTSU’s School of Music Jazz Ensemble I on March 29 as part of a series of concerts and clinics for the annual MTSU 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.

Zenón will join MTSU’s Jazz Ensemble I at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, March 29, in Hinton Music Hall of the Wright Music Building, located at 1439 Faulkinberry Drive. A searchable campus parking map is available at http://tinyurl.com/MTSUParkingMap.

“The evening concert will showcase Miguel Zenón’s abilities alongside our student artists,” said Simmons.

The March 29 night concert tickets are $10 for the public and free for MTSU students, faculty and staff. Discounts for area band students and educators are available. For reserved tickets, call 615-898-2724 or email James.Simmons@mtsu.edu.

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

“He will share with us his gifts as a renowned educator as well,” said Simmons, referring to a free 3:30 p.m. jazz clinic that Zenón will give in Hinton Music Hall.

Zenón has earned a reputation as a brilliant performer, bandleader and teaching artist. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Zenón has released 17 recordings as a leader, including his latest “Golden City” (2024), the Grammy-winning album “El Arte Del Bolero Vol. 2” (2023) and the Grammy-nominated “Música De Las Américas” (2022).

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

The educational component of the day features adjudicated performances by nine groups, including local jazz ensembles, a band from Missouri, MTSU combos from 9 a.m. to noon, and Jazz Ensemble II, directed by Don Aliquo, at 1 p.m.

The day will also include a special 2:15 p.m. performance and Q&A by the jazz faculty titled “The Art of Small Group Jazz Performance.”

Groups will receive comments and ratings from faculty members and Indiana University jazz trumpet professor John Raymond to help sharpen skills and train the next generation of jazz artists. All daytime performances are free and open to the public.

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/.

The late jazz tenor saxophonist Jean-Baptiste "Illinois" Jacquet, shown here at a 1998 concert at Brecon, Wales, is the focus at MTSU's 2025 Illinois Jacquet Jazz Festival, set Saturday, March 29. The annual event for area high school musicians features concerts, clinics, and workshops led by MTSU School of Music faculty members and special guests, who are joined by students in MTSU's Jazz Studies Program. This year's special guest is jazz saxophonist and music educator Miguel Zenón. (photo by William Ellis) — The late jazz tenor saxophonist Jean-Baptiste “Illinois” Jacquet, shown here at a 1998 concert at Brecon, Wales, is the focus at MTSU’s 2025 Illinois Jacquet Jazz Festival, set Saturday, March 29. The annual event for area high school musicians features concerts, clinics, and workshops led by MTSU School of Music faculty members and special guests, who are joined by students in MTSU’s Jazz Studies Program. This year’s special guest is jazz saxophonist and music educator Miguel Zenón. (photo by William Ellis)

To learn more about the Illinois Jacquet Foundation, go to https://illinoisjacquetfoundation.org/. For more information about the MTSU Jazz Illinois Jacquet Jazz Festival, please visit https://music.mtsu.edu/jazzfest.

For more information on this and other MTSU School of Music concerts, visit the “Events Calendar” link at https://music.mtsu.edu/.

— DeAnn Hays (deann.hays@mtsu.edu)