The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

    Annual jazz festival to celebrate alumnus

    The Department of Fine and Performing Arts will be paying homage to Southeastern’s most famous alumnus with the 14th annual Bill Evans Jazz Festival along with the Louisiana Association for Jazz Education (LAJE) State Music Festival. 

    It will be located in the Pottle Music Building Auditorium from Wednesday, April 22 to Saturday, April 25. 

    Bill Evans, alumnus of Southeastern’s class of 1950, is a well-known jazz legend and successful pianist. Beginning piano lessons at the early age of six, Evans also studied the violin and flute. Recruited by Ralph Pottle, Evans was offered a scholarship to play the flute in the Southeastern band, despite his skills on the piano. 

    “We still have a piano that he played on, you know whenever he was in school, and that’s something that not a lot of people can say that they have,” said Dr. John Madere, lecturer of double bass.

    Throughout Evans’ life and accomplishments, he has left a legacy motivating others in their own lives and musical experiences. 

    Another one of Evans’ greatest accomplishments was working with Miles Davis. 

    “He was one of the best selling or most bought jazz album in the history of jazz, which is Miles Davis’ ‘Kind of Blue.’ So he was Miles Davis’ most favorite pianist, for sure,” said senior music performance major, Harry R. Morter, Jr. 

    The competition held in honor of Evans is amongst grade schools’ and university band; the festival has doubled in size compared to last year.

    “Last year we started opening it up for grade schools and university bands and this year right now we’re up to about 13 bands,” said Paul Frechou, associate director of bands. “It has grown and it’s a competition among the middle school and high school bands, but we also have more college groups coming.

    According to Frechou, there will be three judges to adjudicate the bands. After each performance, they will go on stage and give a mini musical clinic to every band and talk to them about their performance.     

    “Plus we’re showcasing a lot of the students around here with the jazz combos, the alumni band and the jazz band,” said Frechou. 

    Everyone is encouraged to come out and support the bands and guest performer Charles Pillow. 

    “He’s one of the first cold guys in New York as far as Dublin, a woodwind player. He plays pretty much every show in New York, and he’s also a teacher of Eastman School of Music,” said Vitalie Gumeniuc, music performance graduate student. 

    While able to mix jazz and classical music, Pillow can also play multiple woodwind instruments making the demand for his appearance high. 

    Tickets for Pillow’s special concert Friday, April 24 will be $15. 

    For more information about the Bill Evans Jazz Festival, visit the music department’s page on the university website.

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