Two influential Michigan jazz musicians will visit the Michigan State University College of Music and surrounding community in February as the MSUFCU Jazz Artist in Residence program expands to showcase Michigan talent.
Saxophonist and flutist Vincent Bowens and drummer Tim Froncek will be in residence Feb. 16-20 as the first “Michigan Icons” participating in MSU’s residency program for prominent jazz artists.
Bowens and Froncek will instruct, perform and tour with MSU’s Jazz Octets during a five-day residency of workshops, master classes and campus concerts. Both artists will also take to the road to perform and visit jazz programs at Mid-Michigan elementary, middle and high schools.
“Long before I had an opportunity to perform with musicians in New York City, as a young musician growing up in Michigan, I had already been exposed to some of the greatest musicians and mentors around,” said Director of Jazz Studies Rodney Whitaker. “This new component of our jazz residency program allows us to expose the greater Lansing community to a wealth of Michigan based artists— such as Vincent Bowens and Tim Froncek.”
Bowens and Froncek will perform with MSU’s four Jazz Octets at the Cook Recital Hall at 8 p.m. on Feb. 20 in the MSU Music Building. General admission tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for seniors. Tickets are available from the College of Music box office, at (517) 353-5340, online at music.msu.edu or at the door one hour before the show. Admission is free to students with ID and those under 18 years of age.