Instrumental Jazz Festival Concert to Feature Fred Hess

MANSFIELD, PA—The 28th annual Mansfield University Instrumental Jazz Festival concert will be held on Friday, April 16 at 7:30 p.m. in Steadman Theatre. The concert is free and open to the public.
Composer/saxophonist Fred Hess will be the guest artist for the concert.
Born in Abington, PA, Hess grew up in New Jersey, attending Trenton State College, before moving to Colorado in 1981. He graduated with a doctorate in music composition from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1991. His early experiences include studies with saxophonist Phil Woods, a stint with bandleader Fred Waring, and composing music for the world premiere of a Sam Shepard play. As a composer, Hess’ influences encompass avant-garde classical sources, as well as Anthony Braxton and the members of the AACM. He is currently coordinator of Music Composition at The Metropolitan State College of Denver.
Hess has recorded 14 CDs as a leader, has twice received the Colorado Council on the Arts Composition Fellowship (1986 and 1994), and captured first place in the inaugural Hennessey Jazz Search in Denver (1991). In 2000, he received the Julius Hemphill Award for Jazz Composition awarded by the Jazz Composers Alliance, and in 2006, Hess won first prize at the International Jazz Composers Symposium held in Tampa Fl.
The concert will open with a high school band selected by the Festival judges as the outstanding ensemble of the day.
A set from the MU Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Kevin Hoferer, will follow. They will perform compositions from Hess’ latest CD release, Hold On. Hess’ music covers a range of styles and you are sure to enjoy these original pieces.
Hess’ small group writing will be featured in the evening’s last set. Joining Hess will be Nate Wooley on trumpet, Phil Haynes on drums and MU faculty Ken Filiano on bass and Hoferer on alto saxophone. The music will include Hess’ take on the blues and move into styles most closely associated with Ornette Coleman and Anthony Braxton.
The MU Jazz Festival is sponsored by the Mansfield University Music Department and is supported by student activity fees.