News from campus and beyond

Jazz Ensemble and Combos in concert with guest Michael Kocour Jan. 31

Photo by Michael Woodall


Last updated January 24, 2014

By Tina Underwood

Photo by Michael Woodall

Photo by Michael Woodall

The Furman Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combos will present a concert Friday, Jan. 31, at 8 p.m. in Daniel Recital Hall on the Furman campus.

The concert is open to the public and features guest, Dr. Michael Kocour, Associate Professor and Director of Jazz Studies at Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students. The event is part of Furman’s Cultural Life Program.

Dr. Matt Olson, Professor of Saxophone and Director of Jazz Studies at Furman, will conduct the ensemble and combos which will perform original music by Dr. Kocour and music by Dizzy Gillespie, Marian McPartland, Thad Jones, and more.

As part of Kocour’s three-day residency at Furman, Kocour will perform a faculty recital with Dr. Olson on Thursday, Jan. 30, at 8 p.m. in Daniel Recital Hall on campus. The recital on Jan. 30 is free and open to the public.

Hailed by the Chicago Tribune as “one of the most sophisticated pianists in jazz,” Kocour has performed at venues around the world and has been a guest on Marian McPartland’s internationally syndicated NPR program “Piano Jazz.” Among the many artists and ensembles with whom he has appeared are Dizzy Gillespie, Eddie Harris, James Moody, Eddie Daniels, Randy Brecker, Benny Golson, Ira Sullivan, and more.

His recorded work as a studio musician includes soundtracks to two major motion pictures, and numerous television commercials. He has eight works published by Warner Brothers, which include collections of original compositions and arrangements for piano.

Kocour holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from University of Illinois and a Master of Music in Music Theory from Northwestern University. He was awarded National Endowment for the Arts study grants in 1988 and 1990, and from 1991-94 he was a visiting lecturer in Jazz Studies and Piano Pedagogy at the University of Illinois.

For more information about the event, contact the Furman University Music Department at 864-294-2086, or FurmanMusic@furman.edu.

Contact Us
Clinton Colmenares
Director of News and Media Strategy