Michigan heats up this December as a second prominent voice in jazz visits the MSU College of Music for a weeklong residency made possible by a $1 million endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union.
Jazz trombonist Robin Eubanks will be at MSU from Dec. 1-7 through the MSUFCU Jazz Artist in Residence program. While in residence, Eubanks will instruct, perform, and tour with MSU's Jazz Orchestra I during a seven-day residency packed with workshops, master classes and concerts. Eubanks and the jazz ensemble will also take to the road to visit music and jazz programs at elementary, middle and high schools in Lansing, Kalamazoo, Clarkston and Holland.
As a jazz trombonist, Eubanks performs with his groups EB3 or Mental Images, the San Francisco Jazz Collective and with the Dave Holland Quintet and Big Band. Eubanks grew up in a musical family and began studying music at age eight. After graduating cum laude from the University of Arts in Philadelphia, he moved to New York City and collaborated with an array of notable artists including Art Blakey, Elvin Jones, Eddie Palmieri, Sun Ra, Barbra Streisand, The Rolling Stones and Talking Heads. Eubanks is a tenured professor of jazz trombone at The Oberlin College Conservatory. As a Grammy-award winning artist, he has recorded seven albums of original music and has received several compositional grants. His latest release, Klassik Rock Volume 1, cements his position as a progressive voice in music. Download high-res photo of Eubanks here.
MSU Assistant Professor of Jazz Trombone Michael Dease says that Eubanks will serve as a valuable resource to aspiring performers and educators because of his experience working with so many accomplished musicians.
"Robin is an extremely versatile jazz artist, equally at home in all areas of jazz performance and composition," said Dease. "Here at MSU we value mentorship and guidance as a top priority. As Robin is a protégé of Slide Hampton and J.J. Johnson, I'm looking forward to our students experiencing his reflections about his early career moves and his own role as an educator in today's music industry."
Eubanks will perform with Jazz Orchestra I, directed by Rodney Whitaker, 8 p.m. on Dec. 5 at the Fairchild Theatre in the MSU Auditorium. The concert will also include performances of Jazz Orchestras II and III. General admission tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and are available from the College of Music box office, in person at the Music Building, Room 102, 333 W. Circle Drive, over the phone 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.
Guitarist Peter Bernstein, the third jazz artist in residence, is slated to hold a residency at MSU March 2-8, 2015. Two Michigan jazz icons—Tim Froncek, drummer, and George Benson, saxophonist—will also visit campus Feb. 16-20, as a new component of the program that showcases Michigan artists. Jazz bassist Christian McBride was the first artist in the 2014-15 program line-up with a weeklong residency in early October.
Schedule: Jazz Artist in Residence Robin Eubanks
- Dec. 1, Blue Monday; MSUFCU 6 p.m., Jazz Forum; 8 p.m. MSU Music PracticeBuilding
- Dec. 2-3, working with and rehearsing with MSU College of Music students
- Dec. 4, School visit, workshop, and performance,Hackett Catholic Central High School, Kalamazoo, Mich. Contact: Scottie Walker, 269-381-2646 ext. 128
- Dec. 5, School visit and performance, Shabazz Academy, Lansing, Mich. Contact:Vera Riley, 517-267-8474
- Dec. 5, Performance with MSU Jazz Orchestra I,Fairchild Theatre, MSU
- Dec. 6, School visit, workshop, and performance, Clarkston High School, Clarkston, Mich. Contact: Justin Harris, 248-623-5611
- Dec. 7, School visit, workshop, and performance, West Ottawa High School, Holland, Mich. Contact: Mike Hamann, 616-994-5068
For complete schedule, visit music.msu.edu/RobinEubanks.