Evento

Merrimans' Playhouse Jazz Performance Series presents the Billy Foster Trio!

Jazz trio featuring Billy Foster on piano, Bruce Evans on bass, Lannie Turner on drums and guest, Renee' Miles-Foster on vocals. This concert will be filmed for a documentary Billy is part of, "This is Living with Cancer", through Patients and Purpose project, a national organization that is creating this inspiring documentary about several cancer patients which includes Billy's journey with cancer. Join us for this special concert and be part of the audience in our intimate setting for our filming event. The film crew is flying out from California Wednesday to start setting up, and will be at the venue with Billy all day Thursday, this is a big deal. We would love to have a full house to support Billy and this project. It will be exciting to know you are part of our warm South Bend audience. Billy will also join us for a live interview on our radio program, "This Is The Gig" on WETF 105.7 FM from 5:00 - 6:00 pm before the concert.

Billy Foster is a respected pianist, composer, educator and producer. Mr. Foster worked as a music educator in the Gary Community Schools for 35 years, served as jazz piano instructor at Valparaiso University for 34 years and is currently piano and Jazz History instructor at Indiana University Northwest. He has conducted many jazz lectures, clinics and educational performances and remains active as a professional musician and band- leader. He has played concerts with acclaimed jazz artists Jimmy Heath, Red Rodney , Clark Terry, Terell Stafford, Curtis Fuller, Tom Harrell, Ernie Watts, Bobby Watson, Henry Johnson and many others. Billy Fosters work may be heard on several CDs including For The Moment and Journey recorded by the Valparaiso University Faculty Jazz Trio. Portrait and Music For Jazz Vespers are CDs recorded by the Billy Foster Trio. Mr. Foster received a B.S. from Defiance College and M.M. from Roosevelt University, with additional study at New York University and with pianist Jaki Byard. . Billy Foster acts as host of the popular radio program The Billy Foster Jazz Zone WGVE 88.7FM, Tues, Thurs, Fri 11:00am - 1:00pm .

Bruce Evans bassist, composer has been playing professionally for More than 40 years. Having played with small groups, big bands and Symphony orchestras he brings a wide variety of experience to the Group. He was instructor of contrabass at Valparaiso University for more than 30 years. He received a B.S. from Defiance College and an M.M from Roosevelt University. He studied with Harold Siegal and additional jazz studies with Rufus Reid. Bruce is also a retired band and orchestra teacher from the Gary Community School System. He has been a member of the Billy Foster Trio for 30+ years. He has played concerts with such national artists as Clark Terry, Jimmy Heath, Randy Brecker, Terell Stafford Art Farmer and many others.

Lannie Turner Professional percussionist for 40+ years. Mr. Turner has performed and or recorded with Albert King, Michael Wolff, Phil Perry and many others. Lannie was signed with Warner Brothers Records and played in the musical Hair. He is currently percussion instructor at Rubinos Music Center and in demand recording and performance percussionist.

Renee Miles-Foster was influenced by the sounds of artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, and Mahalia Jackson. She has had a celebrated 50 year career singing both jazz and gospel music throughout the Mid-West. As protégé of the internationally acclaimed diva Donna Hightower, Renee was invited as guest artist to travel abroad to Munich, Frankfurt, Germany and Switzerland. She was awarded a music scholarship from Indiana Universitys African- American Studies Department to attend Atlanta University, for continued studies in gospel and spiritual music with renowned professor Dr. Wendell Whalum. Educated at Indiana University Bloomington and Gary, Indiana Nominated for the coveted Ezzy Award, nominated twice for Whos Who for women in business and recipient of numerous humanitarian awards for citizenship, community service along with honors for music and art.

http://www.billyfoster.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCNiGcwD55bU83Y3P3jaRIA

$10 Advanced, $13 Door, $8 Student
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