Free jazz concert set for March 2 on campus

Western Washington University’s Department of Music will present Big Bands I and II, a concert featuring Western jazz students and led by instructor of Music and Jazz Studies area coordinator Mike Allen. The bands will perform at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 2, in the Performing Arts Center Concert Hall on the Western campus. Admission to the concert is free. The first of two developments which have taken place in the Western Jazz Studies Area curriculum is the revitalization of the original big band, led by Mike Allen from the alto chair and featuring arrangements by music instructor, Miles Black. Big Band I will premiere Black's newly commissioned arrangements of Miles Davis' iconic "Kind Of Blue.” The second curricular development is a newly formed band Big Band II led by Western music student Christian Casolary. Because of an increased student interest in jazz, the creation of the band allows a greater number of students the opportunity to further develop their musical skills and passion. Big Band II will perform a varied set of classic big band repertoire. For disability accommodations for the performance, please contact Western’s Box Office at (360) 650-6146 or visit http://www.tickets/wwu.edu. Western Box Office hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and one hour prior to the performance. For additional information, please call Western’s Music Department at (360) 650-3130 or visit http://www.wwu.edu/depts/music/