Tenor saxophonist Houston Person will appear as a special guest at Fairfield University's Spring Jazz Concert on Thursday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the school's newly refurbished Gonzaga Auditorium. Jamie Debicella '11, winner of Fairfield University's Mary Louise Larrabee Prize for students in the arts, is the program's student leader. Tickets are $5 at the door.

Brian Q. Torff, a professor of visual and performing arts as well as a renowned bassist and director of jazz and popular music at the university, will direct the evening's program.

Person is best known for his work in soul jazz, his distinctive sassy sound, and an expressive and passionate style of playing. He has been labeled "jazz' working class hero" and a real man of the people. He spent more than 30 years performing and recording with notable vocalist Etta Jones, and has also recorded with Lena Horne, Charles Brown, Bill Charlap and Lou Rawls. In 1982, Person received the Eubie Blake Jazz Award. As a bandleader, he's recorded over 75 albums.

The Fairfield University Gospel Choir, under the direction of TaVon Brown, will make its concert debut. "We are thrilled to have a gospel choir at Fairfield University, as this music feeds and influences many important styles in America," said Torff. "And Houston Person is the perfect player to connect jazz, blues and gospel."

Directions: Fairfield University is located off I-95, exit 22 at 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824. Gonzaga Auditorium is most easily accessed through the main gate at North Benson Rd. Special Note: From Oct. 4, 2010 through June 30, 2012, the southern end of North Benson Road (Rt. 135) will be closed to traffic on nights and weekends.

Posted On: 04-21-2011 11:04 AM

Volume: 43 Number: 283