About This Show
Jon Faddis and Friends perform a concert celebrating the conclusion of the USC Essentially Ellington Regional, a day of learning, adjudication and performance for regional high school and middle school jazz students. The winning high school ensemble will kick off the concert at 7:30 p.m., followed by Jon Faddis, Left Bank Big Band, and special guest artists at the Koger Center for the Arts.
Jon Faddis is an American jazz trumpet player, conductor, composer, and educator, renowned for both his playing and for his expertise in the field of music education. Upon his first appearance on the scene, he became known for his ability to closely mirror the sound of trumpet icon Dizzy Gillespie, who was his mentor along with pianist Stan Kenton and trumpeter Bill Catalano.
A free program for high school jazz bands, Essentially Ellington aims to elevate musicianship, broaden perspectives and inspire performance, organized by Jazz at Lincoln Center.
The Left Bank Big Band, under the direction of Dr. Matthew White, is the premier ensemble of the University of South Carolina Jazz Studies Program. Performing a variety of musical styles that represent the rich and varied history of big band performance and improvised music, they have recently performed with Rodney Whitaker, Nicole Zuraitis, Michael Dease, and Mimi Jones, and various other jazz luminaries. In Summer 2025, the ensemble toured Europe with performances at the Vienne (France), and Umbria (Italy) jazz festivals.
