Jazz concert features Grammy winner John Clayton

KALAMAZOO—The Western Michigan University Jazz Orchestra, directed by Tom Knific, will perform with Grammy Award-winning bassist, composer and conductor John Clayton at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10, in the Dalton Center Recital Hall.

The concert also features WMU alumna Kate Reid, a Los Angeles-area jazz singer and pianist. It will be preceded by a 7 p.m. discussion hosted by Dr. Dan Jacobson, WMU professor of music. Tickets are $12 general admission, $10 for seniors and $5 for students, and are available from Miller Auditorium at millerauditorium.com/som or by calling (269) 387-2300 or (800) 228-9858.

John Clayton

At age 19, John Clayton was the bassist for Henry Mancini's television series, "The Mancini Generation." After graduating from Indiana University in 1975, he toured with Monty Alexander and the Count Basie Orchestra, and was principal bassist for the Amsterdam Philharmonic Orchestra for more than five years. He has written and arranged music for such artists as Quincy Jones, Natalie Cole, Diana Krall and Milt Jackson. He won a platinum record for his arrangement of "The Star-Spangled Banner," performed by Whitney Houston during the opening of the 1990 Super Bowl. As a testament to his immense talent and broad-ranging appeal, he served as the artistic director of jazz for the Los Angeles Philharmonic from 1999 to 2001. Learn more at johnclaytonjazz.com.

Kate Reid

Dr. Kate Reid is a jazz singer and pianist appearing regularly with her quartet at venues throughout the Los Angeles area. She has appeared with Jon Hendricks, Maynard Ferguson, Lionel Hampton, Mark Murphy and the Duke Ellington Orchestra, among others. She is chair of the music department and head of the applied music and jazz programs at Cypress College in Cypress, Calif. Learn more at katereidmusic.com.

Bullock Music Performance Institute

The Dalton Wed@7:30pm: Live and Interactive! concert series is presented by the WMU School of Music under the auspices of the Bullock Music Performance Institute. Established in the fall of 1985 and renamed in 1988 in honor of its founder, the institute has presented events ranging from formal evening concerts to daytime educational outreach events for local audiences and students of all ages.

For more information about the Wednesday evening concert series, call (269) 387-4704 or (269) 387-4678, or visit wmich.edu/music.