Jazz Ensemble and Combos in concert April 11

The Furman Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combos will present a concert Tuesday, April 11, at 8 p.m. in Daniel Recital Hall on the Furman campus.

Presented by the Department of Music, the performance is open to the public. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students.

Matt Olson, Associate Professor of Saxophone and Director of Jazz Studies at Furman, will conduct the ensemble and combos. The jazz combos are coached by both Olson and Furman faculty member and jazz guitarist, Steve Watson.

The performance features guest composer and drummer Stockton Helbing, whose appearance is made possible by Furman’s Student Government Association. The concert highlights the music of Helbing, Wes Montgomery, Jesse Greer, Raymond Klages, Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard, Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart.

In addition to his work as drummer and composer, Stockton Helbing is a renowned arranger, producer, band leader, educator, music director, author and entrepreneur. He has released seven albums: Lodestar (2005), For Nothing is Secret (2007), Battlestations & Escape Plans (2010), Crazy Aquarius (2012), Handprints (2014), Patina (2015), and Swimming in Place (2017). He also released his first educational text in 2015, Big Band Drum Set Sight Reading Etudes Volume 1.

Helbing has performed and recorded with a wide range of artists including Doc Severinsen, Maynard Ferguson, Maniacal 4, Erika Badu, David Braid, Steve Wiest, Jennifer Holiday, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Denis DiBlasio, Cincinnati Pops, Randy Brecker and many others.

A resident of Dallas, Texas, Helbing teaches at the University of North Texas as an adjunct professor of music. He has also held positions as artist in residence at Oklahoma State University, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and frequently appears as guest artist at universities.

Since 2007, Helbing has owned and operated independent Jazz record label Armored Records, which has released over 50 albums from artists coast to coast.

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