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JazzMN Big Band Features Peter Erskine

Grammy award-winning jazz drummer Peter Erskine will be the featured guest artist with the JazzMN Big Band directed by Douglas Snapp in "Drummer for All Ages" on Saturday, March 18th, 2006 at the Hopkins High School Performing Arts Center.

Erskine and the JazzMN Big Band will perform Stan Kenton's "A Little Minor Booze" by Willie Maiden, the Maynard Ferguson version of Sonny Rollins' tune "Airegin, " Patrick Williams' drum brush feature, "In the Still of the Night, " and the Miles Davis classic "All Blues, " spotlighting Erskine with JazzMN drummer Joe Pulice. Opening the concert, vocalist Judi Donaghy will sing Johnny Mercer's "Day In, Day Out, " and the first half closing number will present the JazzMN saxophone section in a burning version of Cole Porter's "Easy to Love, " with a solo based on Cannonball Adderly's classic performance.

The JazzMN Big Band personnel for the March concert will feature altosaxophone, Brian Grivna and Pete Whitman; tenor saxophone, Dave Karr and Dale Mendenhall; baritone saxophone, Kathy Jensen; trombone, Michael Nelson, Dave Graf and Ethan Freier; bass trombone, Wade Clark; trumpet, Bob Hallgrimson, Jeff Gottwig, Dave Jensen and Tim Sullivan; guitar, Clay Moore; piano, Mary Louise Knutson; bass, Gordon Johnson; drums, Joe Pulice.

Peter Erskine began playing the drums at the age of four. He attended highschool and college at Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, joined the Stan Kenton Orchestra for three years, followed by Maynard Ferguson, Weather Report and Steps Ahead. Erskine now works with The Lounge Art Ensemble, and with his former Kenton roommate, keyboardist Alan Pasqua and bassist David Carpenter. Erskine lives in Southern California where he composes for dance, theatre and animation.



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