NEWS RELEASE
Nov. 11, 2010
Contact: Steve Rottinghaus, director of public relations, 785-594-8330 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Jazz Festival set for Nov. 18-19

Baldwin City, Kan. — The 13th annual Baker University Invitational Jazz Festival is set for Nov. 18-19 at Rice Auditorium on the Baldwin City campus. Admission is free and open to the public.

The festival begins with a concert at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 18. The Baker Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of J.D. Parr, will perform at the event. Ed Bingham, director of jazz studies at Marshall University in Huntington, W. Va., will be the guest soloist on the flute and saxophone. Led by Bingham, the Marshall Jazz Ensemble has performed at numerous American jazz festivals, including the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Marshall in January is host to one of the largest jazz festivals in the eastern United States, featuring internationally renowned jazz artists and recording stars.

From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, Nov. 19, eighteen high school jazz bands from Topeka, Olathe, Shawnee Mission and surrounding areas will perform before a panel of four jazz critics, led by Bingham. At the end of the day the outstanding student jazz soloists will receive commendations from the jazz artists and a recording of their performance.