The Jefferson College Jazz Ensemble has scheduled an upcoming performance at a special place – a jazz and blues club in St. Louis.
The jazz concert is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, at Jazz St. Louis, 3536 Washington Ave. Tickets are $20-$25 and may be purchased online at my.jazzstl.org or at the door.
College events typically are held in the Fine Arts Building’s theater on the Hillsboro campus, but this year they are taking place around Jefferson County and beyond while the structure undergoes a $6.5 million renovation project.
For the concert, the college’s Jazz Ensemble will perform with Erena Terakubo, an internationally acclaimed musician skilled at playing the saxophone, flute and clarinet, as well as composing and arranging.
The concert will be a celebration of Mardi Gras and a nod to the ensemble’s 2025 trip to New Orleans, according to information from the college.
Joel Vanderheyden, Jefferson College professor of music and director of jazz, said performing at Jazz St. Louis is a first-time event for the college’s Jazz Ensemble he directs, and the member are thrilled about the opportunity. The ensemble consists of students and community members.
“I think Jazz St. Louis is probably the best venue for jazz in the region,” Vanderheyden said. “It’s one of the top jazz venues in the entire Midwest. They’ve got a deep history of programming world-class artists, as well as local performers. And, their education programs affect a lot of young musicians.”
He said it will be an honor for the college’s Jazz Ensemble to play with Terakubo, who is from Sapporo, Japan. She now lives in New York City and is an educator as well.
“She’s a monster player,” Vanderheyden said. “We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to play with her.”
Terakubo will join the ensemble in performing a variety of styles, mixing classic jazz tunes and new compositions, including “Der Sasser” by Cannonball Adderly arranged by Terakubo, and “Quintessence” by Quincy Jones. The concert also will offer “Groovin’ High” by Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, featuring Jefferson College trumpet instsructor Dustin Shrum, and “Mississippi Mojo,” a Vanderheyden composition, according to the college.
Ensemble members include students Tyler Cope, Joaquin Stewart, Liv Hartwell and Keller McCowan on saxophone; Oliver Nice, Jesse Stahlman, Isaiah Lauer and Milo Chandler on trumpet; Carl Courtois, Chase Tipton and Landon Kieckbusch on trombone; and Colton Bolte, Hank Shrader, Shepherd Krepps, Jude Short, Chris Shucart and Gabe Spitznagels on rhythm section-percussion. Community members in the band include Liam West and Chase Karr on saxophone; Bob Brazzle, Kayla Price and Marshall Bedell on trumpet; Cameron Kleine, Jordan Partney and Carter Couch on trombone; and Isaac Dessau on rhythm section-percussion.
The concert is part of the college’s PACE program, and this year’s theme is “The Arts are Everywhere,” acknowledging the college’s events taking place away from the campus, Vanderheyden said.