October has all that jazz: FIU School of Music Jazz concerts

FIU’s School of Music kicks off its season of Jazz with its “Jazz at the Wertheim Series” on Oct. 12, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. in the Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Performing Arts Center (WPAC). The first concert features the FIU Studio Jazz Big Band, under the direction of Jim Hacker, with special guest Bob Mintzer.

Mintzer, a renowned band leader, educator, and composer, is a twenty year member of the Grammy award winning Yellowjackets. He has worked with a variety of musicians and ensembles over the last three decades and has done session work for James Taylor, Queen, Steve Winwood, and Aretha Franklin. He is also an accomplished author, as well as conducts clinics and workshops, including one that will be offered to the students from FIU’s School of Music.

The FIU Big Band is also scheduled to participate in the Miami NICE Jazz Festival, on Friday, Oct. 26. The concert takes place at the Olympian Theater at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts at 8 p.m. Tickets for this event are available exclusively at the Miami NICE Jazz Festival box office.

The month of October concludes with the FIU Latin Jazz Ensemble and Combo 2’s presentation of a night of jazz standards and creative original compositions on October 30 at 7:30 p.m. More Jazz concerts are scheduled throughout the 2012-2013 season at the Wertheim Performing Arts Center, Pinecrest Gardens, and Heritage Park in Sunny Isles Beach. For information about these events, visit the online music box office or call 305-348-0496.