The jazz program at the U of A is excited to announce two public performances featuring the Jazz Combos and the World Music Ensemble at the Fayetteville Public Library.

The U of A Jazz Combos, under the direction of Department of Music professors Rick Salonen and Susumu Watanabe, will perform at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2. "These exciting student ensembles will be performing a variety of jazz classics from the compositions of Pat Metheny, Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Shaw, John Coltrane, Oliver Nelson, Herbie Hancock, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Sting and Arkansas' own John Stubblefield," Salonen said. "It will be an exciting display of multiple jazz genres such as swing, hard bop, Latin jazz, be-bop, fusion, rock and modern jazz." 

The U of A World Music Ensemble, under the direction of Nikola Radan, will perform at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov 16. "The World Music Ensemble is a group of student musicians who are interested in learning and making new music based on a variety of world cultures and traditions. In this concert, the ensemble will present jazz music from Bosnia, Macedonia and Bulgaria. In addition, they will feature music from the 16th and 17th centuries, a time when Islam, Christianity and Judaism found a common ground in music," Radan said. Joining the concert will be Department of Music voice professor Lenora Green-Turner.  

"We are so happy for this chance to partner with the Fayetteville Public Library on these concerts," said Jazz Area Coordinator Jake Hertzog. "Bringing jazz to the community and providing more opportunities for our students is an important part of our program's mission."  

Both performances will be held in the Walker Community Room and are free and open to the public.