Marshall University’s 41st Annual Jazz Festival, which will take place Jan. 28, 29 and 30, will feature guest artists Bob Thompson, pianist, and Greg Abate, saxophonist. Thompson and Abate will perform, adjudicate school ensembles and present clinic sessions as part of the festival.

Bob Thompson’s music has communicated with audiences around the globe during a professional career that has spanned more than 30 years. From his early days with the Modern Jazz Interpreters, to an acclaimed series of solo albums on labels such as Capitol and Ichiban, to his latest work with his five-member Bob Thompson Unit, Thompson has won the respect and praise of jazz critics and fans alike. With appearances on BET, the internationally-broadcast public radio show Mountain Stage and several tours abroad, he’s been a visible presence in the jazz world. For the past eleven years Thompson’s holiday jazz show, “Joy to the World,” has been broadcast on Public Radio International.
Greg Abate, jazz saxophonist, flutist and composer, is an international jazz/recording artist who spends 150 days a year touring the globe. In the mid-1970s, after graduating from the Berklee College Of Music, Abate played lead alto sax for the Ray Charles Orchestra. He also formed his own group, “Channel One,” that became a favorite in the New England area. He also played tenor sax with the revived Artie Shaw Orchestra.
Abate’s post hard-bop style has been featured at jazz festivals, jazz societies and jazz clubs throughout the world, His recordings include “EVOLUTION” (2004) which received 4 Grammy nominations. He teaches Jazz Studies at Rhode Island College and is an active clinician who conducts workshops and master classes through the U.S and abroad.
Thompson and Abate join a long list of artists who have performed at Marshall and with the MU Jazz Ensemble. Included among them are Joe Farrell, Phil Wilson, Clark Terry, Gary Burton, Rich Matteson, Art Pepper, Jamey Aebersold, Maynard Ferguson and Orchestra, Stan Kenton and Orchestra, Woody Herman and the Thundering Herd, Herbie Mann, Gary Burton, Ed Soph, Dominic Spera, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra with Buddy Morrow, the Count Basie Orchestra, Mike Vax, Chris Vadala, Bill Watrous, Eddie Daniels, Oliver Nelson, Dave Valentin, Alvin Batiste, Terry Gibbs, Denis DeBlasio, Conrad Herwig, James Dapogny, Louis Bellson, Arturo Sandoval, The Columbus Jazz Orchestra, Paquite D’Rivera and the Dizzy Gillespie All Stars, Sherrie Maricle and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra and The Knoxville Jazz Orchestra with Dan Trudell.

Marshall’s jazz festival is one of the longest continuously running college festivals in the country. It has been an important part of West Virginia’s artistic community since its beginning in 1970. It attracts nationally recognized artists and supports the MU Jazz Studies program in its efforts to educate students, to entertain the public and to preserve the rich heritage of jazz.

Additional contributions to the festival include performances by Dr. Sean Parsons, Bluetrane, (Marshall’s Faculty Jazz Combo), the MU Jazz Ensemble and the Thundering Herd All-Stars.

The following festival events are in the Joan C. Edwards Playhouse on 5th Ave. on the Huntington campus:

Thursday, Jan. 28
8 p.m., High School Honors Ensemble and
Bob Thompson and Sean Parsons, piano duo

Friday, Jan. 29
9 a.m.-5 p.m. High School Adjudication
8 p.m. Guest artist Greg Abate with Bluetrane

Saturday, Jan. 30
9 a.m.-1 p.m. High School adjudication
2 p.m. Greg Abate master class
8 p.m. Thundering Herd Jazz All-Stars
8:30 p.m. Festival Finale: Marshall University Jazz Ensemble
with guest saxophonist Greg Abate.

Admission for each day is $10 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets for events in the Joan C. Edwards Playhouse are available at the JCE ticket office or by phone at 304-696-ARTS (2787)

For additional information, contact Dr. Ed Bingham, director of jazz studies at Marshall, at 304-696-3147 or visit MU Jazz Studies online at www.marshall.edu/jazz.