center stage at festival

By JAINE TREADWELL

Features Editor

An award-winning, internationally acclaimed musician will be a featured performer when Troy State University plays host to the second annual Southeastern United States Jazz Celebration held in conjunction with the Jean Lake Festival Saturday.

Chris Vadala will perform in concert with the TSU Jazz Ensemble at

5 p.m., bringing

a rousing conclusion to a day-long Jazz fest.

Vadala is one of the country’s, premier jazz musicians and is sought-after worldwide as a clinician and perfomer, said Ray Smith, associate professor of music and director of jazz studies at TSU.

"The Southeastern United State Jazz Celebration gives music

fans in our area a rare chance to see such a talented performer in concert," Smith said.

However, jazz fans won’t have to wait until Saturday to get all "jazzed up."

The Southeastern United States Jazz Celebration will get underway at 2:30 Friday afternoon with instrumental clinics held in TSU’s Long Hall.

Vadala will perform in concert with the TSU Jazz Ensemble at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Hawkins-Adams-Long Hall of Honor. The clinics and the concert are free of charge and open to the public.

The Jazz Celebration will continue Saturday morning at the amphitheater at Pike Pioneer Museum. At 11 a.m. the Patrick Bruce Jazz Quartet will be on stage, followed by the Enterprise State Junior College Jazz Combo at noon.

In the afternoon, the Troy State University Late Afternoon Jazz Ensemble will take the stage at 1 o’clock followed by the TSU Jazz Chamber Ensemble at 2.

At 3 p.m. the Bailey Jazz Ensemble from Pensacola will be the featured group.

The Glass House contemporary vocal ensemble will take the stage at 4 p.m. and will be followed by Vadala and the TSU Jazz Ensemble.

Admission to the Jean Lake Festival admits ticket holders to the Jazz Celebration and to the Vadala concert.

A two-day value pass will be available for $5.