Monday, January 03, 2005

Dec. 20, 2004

Wilmington, N.C.—Marcus Roberts Trio opens a creative window between the past and future of American jazz at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29 in the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Kenan Auditorium. The trio, featuring Roberts on piano, Roland Guerin on bass and Jason Marsalis on drums, will pay tribute to North Carolina jazz greats John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk in a program that retains the substance of their work but also finds new musical challenges for the present. This is the fifth event of UNCW’s seven-part Arts in Action Performance Series and will feature UNCW Jazz Ensembles.

Roberts is one of the most versatile and creative jazz artists of his generation. Although known for his command of early American piano styles, what Roberts does best is synthesize the entire history of American piano music to create a modern cultural statement through jazz improvisation.

The trio’s style evolved from the lineage of the great jazz trios of Nat Cole and Errol Garner. The piano has traditionally been the central focus of such trios but Roberts prefers to have all musicians in the group share equally in shaping the direction of the music. The trio’s repertoire is wonderfully varied, ranging from beautiful ballads and classic American standards to lively and engaging modern original compositions.

“North Carolina has such a great lineage when it comes to jazz, having produced the likes of Coltrane and Monk as well as vocalist Nina Simone, drummer Max Roach, pianist Dr. Billy Taylor and, Wilmington’s own, bassist Percy Heath,” said Shannon Hooker, assistant director for programs and marketing, University Union. “It’s wonderful to have the high-caliber musicians of Marcus Roberts Trio introduce that legacy to our students, many of whom may never have experienced this kind of music in a live setting before.”

Bassist, composer and arranger Guerin dazzles audiences worldwide with his slap bass technique. He has been leader on four recordings of his own and appeared on over 45 albums worldwide with artists that include Roberts, Ellis Marsalis and Mark Whitfield. Selected by Jazz Review for its “Fantasy Jazz Band,” Guerin joined the trio in 1995.

Jason Marsalis is the youngest son of pianist Ellis Marsalis, the father of one of America’s most musical families. He began playing drums at age three and in 1994 he joined the Marcus Roberts Trio when he was 17. He has been instrumental to the development of the trio’s unique philosophy and style, adding fresh approaches to syncopation and texture.

Marcus Roberts Trio will hold an open rehearsal/discussion at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25 in Kenan Auditorium, featuring the UNCW Jazz Ensembles. The public is free to observe. For more information, visit www.uncw.edu/arts.

BOX OFFICE AND TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets are $6 for university and area students, $12 for UNCW faculty/staff and senior citizens, and $18 for all others. Arts in Action Choose-Your-Own Season subscriptions may be purchased at a savings of up to 10 percent off ticket prices until Jan. 29, 2005. For tickets, call Kenan Auditorium Box Office at 910/962-3500 or 800/732-3643 outside the Wilmington area. Box office hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

ABOUT UNCW ARTS IN ACTION PERFORMANCE SERIES

Sponsored by the University Union at UNCW and funded in part by UNCW student fees, the Arts in Action Performance Series seeks to culturally enrich, educate and entertain both students and the general public through the presentation of diverse programs featuring professional, high-quality performing artists. For more information, visit the Arts in Action web site at www.uncw.edu/arts.

UNCW Arts in Action is a member of the N.C. Presenters Consortium and the U.S. National Association of Performing Arts Presenters. The 150 member venues of the N.C. Presenters Consortium may be visited at www.presenters.org.