Normal Theatre is Concert Site for ISU Faculty Jazz Ensemble

Date: 10/9/06
Contact: Marc Lebovitz

A new venue and a new musician will be the order of the day at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16, when the Illinois State University Faculty Jazz Ensemble plays a variety of jazz standards in a concert at the historic Normal Theatre on North Street.

Admission is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by Normal Parks and Recreation.

Although baritone saxophonist Glenn Wilson is new to the School of Music faculty and new to the Faculty Jazz Ensemble, he is no newcomer to the music field. A world-class player with six solo albums, Wilson is a former New York City artist who toured and recorded with such jazz giants as Buddy Rich, Lionel Hampton, Machito, Tito Puente, the Bill Kirchner Nonet, Mel Lewis, Toshiko Akiyoshi and the Bob Belden Ensemble. Wilson also has recorded and toured with rock pianist Bruce Hornsby. He has appeared on 21 other albums as a sideman. He recently completed his master's degree in jazz performance from the University of Illinois.

Wilson's talents will join those of saxophonist Jim Boitos, pianist/trombonist Charles Stokes, bass player Bill Koehler and drummer Tom Marko.

Another musical performance is scheduled this semester at the Normal Theatre. A new one-woman show created by Illinois State's soprano Michelle Vought will take place on Nov. 13. Vought, who recently has performed the new show, "Madame Monsieur," in Massachusetts, performs the first half of the concert as a woman singing female repertoire from musical theatre and opera. After intermission, Vought dresses as a man to sing tenor arias and to play the rogue singing male repertoire.