University Ensembles Concert: Jazz Ensembles with Dennis Mackrel
Venue: Moss Arts Center at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg
Date: Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Time: 7:30 - 9:30 PM
Event Types: Music
Cost:

Description:
The Virginia Tech Department of Music presents a University Ensembles Concert featuring Jazz Ensembles with guest artist Dennis Mackrel at the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech on Tuesday, April 29, 2014. 

A child prodigy, Dennis began playing the drums when he was two; and became a professional musician at the age of ten when he performed in the Anchorage Community Theatre's production of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum".

In January of 1983, Dennis joined the Count Basie Orchestra on the personal recommendation of Mr. Williams. He would become the youngest member of the orchestra and the last drummer to be hired by Mr. Basie personally. Dennis traveled extensively and worked alongside Mr. Basie until his death in April 1984. He continued with the orchestra under the direction of interim leader Eric Dixon followed by Thad Jones. In 1985 under Mr. Jones's leadership, the Count Basie Orchestra recorded one of Dennis's compositions entitled "And That's That".

Dennis's transition from sideman to leader continued with his frequent trips to Europe as a guest conductor, arranger and/or soloist for such outstanding ensembles as the Kluvers Big Band in Aarhus, Denmark, the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Holland, the WDR Big Band in Koln, Germany and in 2010, he returned to the Count Basie Orchestra where he served as it's leader and chief conductor until 2013.

In addition to being a seasoned musician, Dennis is also a highly respected composer/arranger whose commissioned works have been recorded by the United States Millitary Academy at West Point's Jazz Knights BIg Band, The Temple University Jazz Ensemble, The Columbus Jazz Orchestra and, most notably, the McCoy Tyner Big Band whose Grammy winning CDs "The Turning Point" and "Journey" included four of Dennis's arrangements.

For more information, visit: http://dennismackrelmusic.com/

Tickets are available at the Student Centers and Activities Office and at the performance hall door one hour prior to the performance on a seats-available basis. For more information contact the Student Centers and Activities Ticket Office at 540.231.5615 or go to http://www.tickets.vt.edu

All sales final and refunds cannot be issued. 

For more information, visit: http://www.music.vt.edu/department/calendar/ or https://www.facebook.com/VTPerformingArts