Jazz instructors show chops in pro series concert

BRANDON, MB – In his debut pro series performance, jazz drummer Eric Platz will be joined by his departmental colleagues, saxophonist Greg Gatien and pianist Michael Cain. The trio will offer a programme of jazz standards and originals, on Tuesday, December 1, in the Lorne Watson Recital Hall.

“This jazz trio concert promises to be one of the performing highlights of the year,” says Dr. Michael Kim, Dean of the School of Music. “The outstanding artistry of our jazz faculty will highlight the excellence of our jazz program, and its growing national and international reputation.”

This pro series recital will be held Tuesday, December 1, at 8:00 p.m., in the Lorne Watson Recital Hall of the Queen Elizabeth II Music Building, at Brandon University.

Tickets to this and all other pro series concert are $12 for adults, $8 for seniors, alumni and students, and $6 for Conservatory students. Subscriptions for the pro series’ entire season can also be purchased, ranging from $60 for adults, to $35 for seniors, alumni and students, to $25 for Conservatory students. Both tickets and subscriptions can be bought at the door or in advance at the School of Music. Seating is limited. Programmes are subject to change.

The pro series and the School of Music gratefully acknowledge the generous support of The Canada Council for the Arts, the Manitoba Arts Council and of the Province of Manitoba, through a Consolidated Arts Programming Grant from Culture, Heritage and Tourism.

Bio – Eric Platz

The Brandon University jazz department’s newest faculty member, Eric Platz formerly taught at the University of Rhode Island, Providence College, and the University of Massachusetts in Boston. He is well-versed in many musical styles and has collaborated with Boston and New York-based musicians for the past ten years. His repertoire is eclectic and includes jazz, Americana, world music, rock, and classical. He has toured throughout North America, has appeared on recordings and has played at venues like The Blue Note. A busy freelancer, Platz has performed with Bill Frisell, Joe Lovano and Lucinda Williams, among many others.

Bio – Greg Gatien

The initial jazz instructor in the School of Music, Greg Gatien has helped develop the department and continues to balance teaching with performing. His undergraduate studies were in music education and jazz studies at Saint Francis Xavier University. All the while, he performed extensively in the Maritimes. Afterward, he moved to Boston in the early 1990s to study saxophone and improvisation with Jerry Bergonzi, and then returned to play with the Maritime Jazz Orchestra alongside Eastern Canadian jazz musicians Kirk McDonald, Chris Mitchell, Mike Murley, Jim Vivian, Greg Carter, and others. A few years later, he pursued a Master’s of Music in jazz and contemporary media at the Eastman School of Music.

  Bio – Michael Cain

A prolific jazz musician and educator, Michael Cain first performed in the pro series four years ago. During university studies, he vacillated between jazz and classical music, settling on the latter for a while before turning his attention to jazz. He is a graduate of the California Institute of the Arts, where he obtained both Bachelor and Master’s degrees. While at Cal Arts, he was greatly influenced by world music. His career has seen him perform and record with many jazz greats, including Dave Holland, Bobby McFerrin, Joshua Redman and countless others, and his talents can be heard on more than 30 discs. He taught both Gatien – at the Eastman School of Music – and Platz at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.

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For more information, please contact:

 

• School of Music
• Brandon University                                    
• (204) 727-9631        

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