Famous and professional jazz musicians will be playing this week at Pottle Music Building for the 15th Annual Bill Evans Jazz Festival hosted by the Department of Fine and Performing Arts. 

The annual jazz festival started on Monday and the last of the events will be held on Saturday. It is named after the late, famous jazz pianist and university alumnus, Bill Evans. The festival will include performances from prominent musicians, alumni and students along with a competition for high schools. This year, critically acclaimed trombone soloist, bandleader and Grammy-nominated arranger, John Fedchock, is coming to the university as the special guest of the festival. 

According to the Associate Director of Bands, Paul Frechou, Fedchock will be holding a clinic for musicians at 1 p.m. on Saturday in the Recital Hall. He will be performing afterwards at 

3 p.m., which will conclude the festival. 

“Anybody is invited and it is free,” said Frechou. 

According to Frechou, Fedchock is an in-demand clinician who conducts seminars and workshops at colleges and universities throughout the United States. Fedchock holds a master’s degree in jazz studies and contemporary media from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York along with degrees in music education and in jazz studies from Ohio State University. 

“He is considered, by many, to be the finest jazz trombonist in the world,” said Frechou. 

Fedchock began his career with the Woody Herman Orchestra in 1980. He has toured with numerous jazz bands and leads the John Fedchock New York Big Band. According to Frechou, Fedchock is one of New York City’s premier jazz artists. In 2003, Fedchock won a Grammy for best musical arrangement for his arrangement “Caribbean Fire Dance.”

On Fedchock’s trombone ability, the New York Times said he plays with “dazzling trombone virtuosity.”

The professional band, John Mahoney Big Band, will play on Friday in the Pottle Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. and tickets will cost $15. According to Frechou, the band is known for playing in New Orleans at Snug Harbor jazz bar on Frenchman St. 

High schools jazz bands will be competing on Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. According to Frechou, bands will be judged on their performances of three selections and given a rating superior, excellent, good, fair or poor. Bands who are rated superior will win first, second and third place trophies.

Last night marked the first event of the festival. At 7:30 p.m., Dr. John Madere conducted university students in the Southeastern Jazz Combos in the Recital Hall. 

The Alumni Jazz Band will be playing tonight in the Pottle Auditorium. According to Frechou, it will be a full big band with alumni who are professional musicians.