Master Drummer John Riley Visits Utah State University

Renowned jazz drummer and educator John Riley performs in concert with Utah State University’s big bands and the All Northern High School Jazz Band Wednesday, April 7, 7:30 p.m., in the Performance Hall at Utah State University.

 

The Big Band Jazz Concert is $8 for general admission or free to USU students with valid student ID. For tickets, visit the Caine School of the Arts Box Office online, or call 797-8022.

 

Riley has performed with many of the greatest names in jazz, including Miles Davis, John Scofield, Bob Mintzer, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Carnegie Hall Jazz Band and University of North Texas 1:00 Lab Band.

 

“We are absolutely thrilled to have John Riley teach, inspire and perform with our students,” said Jon Gudmundson, director of USU’s jazz studies program in the Department of Music. “I give thanks to our percussion teacher, Dr. Jason Nicholson, for his efforts to bring Mr. Riley here. We often perform the music of Bob Mintzer and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra … to have the opportunity to play this music with the drummer from those bands will be a rare treat. It will be invaluable to have John’s insight into the music.”

 

Besides his career as a world-class jazz performer, Riley is recognized as one of the finest jazz educators in the world. His books, The Art of Bop Drumming, Beyond Bop Drumming and The Jazz Drummer’s Workshop and his instructional DVD The Master Drummer are considered essential standards in the world of jazz education.

 

“As always, we try to bring in guests that are both great players and great teachers,” Gudmundson said. “John Riley certainly fills the bill on both counts. I believe audiences at our Tuesday night jam session at Why Sound from 7-9 p.m. and our Wednesday night concert at the Performance Hall will love hearing this man play the drums.”

 

Why Sound is located at 30 Federal Ave. in downtown Logan and the cost is $5 per person at the door for the April 6 session.

 

In addition to the jam session and concert, Riley will demonstrate the evolution of jazz drumming for Gudmundson’s history of jazz course Tuesday, April 6, at 10:30 a.m. in the Fine Arts Visual building, Room 150. He will also coach USU jazz combos and teach jazz clinics Wednesday, April 7, at 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. in the Performance Hall at Utah State University.

 

For further information, contact the Caine School of the Arts Box Office at 435-797-8022, or Gudmundson at 435-797-3003.

 

 

Writer: Courtney Lewis, Caine School of the Arts, 435-797-9203, courtney.lewis@usu.edu