Jazz Fest to Highlight 'Texas Tenor' Tradition

Texas jazz has been as large and as loud as the image the state prides itself for, and nowhere has this been more true than in the Texas tenor saxophone tradition.

Pardon Our Progress • Travel Directions to Concert

The large-as-the-Lone-Star-State sound roars to life at the University of Texas at Dallas at 8 p.m. Jan. 30 and 31.

The School of Arts & Humanities presents a two-day jazz festival centered on the historical elements of jazz in the Dallas area both nights in the University Conference Center:

• The Woody Herman Orchestra, directed by Frank Tiberi, headlines the Friday night concert. Local favorite, the Texas Instruments Jazz Band, directed by Paul Westbrook, opens for the Orchestra.
• Saturday night features young local Texas tenor saxophonist Quamon Fowler opening for James “Red” Holloway, whose career has included performances with Dexter Gordon, Lionel Hampton, Jack McDuff, Billie Holiday, Ben Webster, Sonny Rollins, and Lester Young. Saturday’s performances are sponsored in part by the City of Richardson.

The “Texas Tenor” style of saxophone playing describes a player with a very “big” sound who exhibits a somewhat blues-oriented style. The unique styling is achieved by pairing the body of a tenor saxophone with a baritone saxophone mouthpiece.

Tickets are $25 for one concert or $40 for both. All proceeds go to the Arts & Humanities Scholarship Fund.

Buy tickets in person or by phone from the UT Dallas Box Office (972-883-2552), or buy online at ah.utdallas.edu.

All performances will be held in the University Conference Center, located near the corner of Drive A and Rutford on the UT Dallas campus (800 W. Campbell Road, Richardson). Due to ongoing campus construction, patrons should access the Conference Center via Waterview Parkway and Drive A. For more information, visit ah.utdallas.edu.

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