Scranton, PA – The University of Scranton Jazz Band is set to enthrall audiences on Saturday, October 28th, with a captivating performance featuring acclaimed tenor saxophonist Chris Lewis as the evening’s guest soloist.
Presented by Performance Music at The University of Scranton, the concert will kick off at 7:30 p.m. at the Houlihan-McLean Center, situated at the intersection of Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue. This musical experience is open to the public, with free admission, and seating available on a first-come, first-served basis.
During the concert, the University’s student jazz ensemble, led by Performance Music Conductor and Director Cheryl Y. Boga, will take the stage and perform a diverse selection of pieces, with Chris Lewis prominently featured on the tenor saxophone.
Boga shared the history of her connection with Chris Lewis, stating, “I met Chris more than a decade ago while guest conducting a PMEA band festival, at which time he was already displaying a prodigious talent that made him very memorable. Then two or three years ago, my son was performing at the Sitka Jazz Festival, and I got a text from Chris with a photo of him and Joseph grinning like clowns that made me laugh out loud. Turns out they were both playing at the festival, and met each other for the first time in – of all places – Alaska!”
Hailing from Northeast Pennsylvania, Chris Lewis has rapidly gained recognition as an in-demand saxophonist and educator, earning a Grammy Award along the way. He has had the privilege of performing alongside various jazz legends, including Wynton Marsalis, Herbie Hancock, Michael Bublé, Eric Reed, Terell Stafford, The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, John Beasley’s MONK’estra, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the Mingus Big Band, Count Basie Orchestra, and The Gil Evans Project. His saxophone artistry can also be enjoyed in television series such as “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and “The Godfather of Harlem,” as well as in Levi’s Vintage’s fall 2022 ad campaign.
With a wealth of experience, Chris Lewis has also shared his knowledge through teaching clinics on small and large ensemble playing, saxophone, harmony, and improvisation at various camps, festivals, and universities. He has served as a guest clinician for Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Regional Essentially Ellington Festival. Presently residing in New York City, Lewis maintains a busy schedule as a performer and educator.
The University of Scranton Jazz Band, a 28-member ensemble with a big band-style instrumentation, is composed of student musicians pursuing a wide range of academic disciplines. They perform numerous times throughout the year, with most of their performances open to the public, free of charge, and often feature nationally or internationally renowned guest soloists.
Prepare to be mesmerized as the University of Scranton Jazz Band, accompanied by the remarkable Chris Lewis, takes the stage to deliver an unforgettable evening of jazz on October 28th.
