MSU ensembles swing with Beethoven, Ellington
The MSU Symphony Orchestra and MSU Jazz Orchestra I are joining forces for a concert tonight at Wharton Center. It’s an Ellington and Beethoven concert, a meeting of the great composers.
View ArticleBassist Whitaker leads Professors of Jazz performance
Rodney Whitaker is professor of double bass and director of Jazz Studies at MSU’s College of Music. He’ll lead the Professors of Jazz in an 8 p.m. performance tonight at MSU’s Cook Recital Hall....
View ArticleLIVE MUSIC FRIDAY: Vincent Bowens
It’s a Live Music Friday again here on Current State , and today, we’ve been enjoying the saxophone of Vincent Bowens . This week, Bowens has been spending time with students in the MSU College of...
View ArticleNYC jazz guitarist teaches, performs at MSU
The MSU Federal Credit Union Jazz Artist in Residence program with the MSU College of Music has another feature artist working with students on campus this week. Current State talks with guitarist...
View ArticleMSU jazz prof Rodney Whitaker remembers trumpeter Marcus Belgrave
Detroit jazz trumpeter Marcus Belgrave died just over a week ago. Early in his career he backed many Motown musicians, and was in Ray Charles’ band. He later worked with many jazz greats including Max...
View ArticleLive Music Friday: Brian Lynch
Our Live Music Friday guest this week is Grammy Award-winning jazz trumpeter Brian Lynch . He’s at MSU this week working with the College of Music’s MSUFCU Jazz Artist in Residence program.
View ArticleWKAR documentary celebrates Coltrane’s ‘A Love Supreme’
2015 brought music lovers the 50th anniversary of the classic John Coltrane album "A Love Supreme." WKAR documents the achievement in a radio special Saturday night.
View ArticleVeteran EL producer shares in Grammy nomination
East Lansing music producer and engineer Glenn Brown talks about his involvement with a project up for a Grammy award, bassist Marcus Miller’s album “Afrodeezia.”
View ArticleJazz piano giant Kenny Barron begins week-long residency at MSU
Jazz legend Kenny Barron takes up a week-long residency at MSU, performing and teaching throughout Mid-Michigan. Wel hear him perform and speak with Current State's Scott Pohl.
View ArticleMSU Jazz prof Ron Newman previews Fairchild Theatre recital
MSU Jazz professor Ron Newman showcases the keyboard in an upcoming Fairchild Theatre concert.
View ArticleJazz Trumpeter Bria Skonberg to heat up Wharton Center
We’ll speak with jazz trumpeter and vocalist Bria Skonberg who is coming to the Wharton Center’s Pasant Theater on Wednesday night. We’ll speak about her Dixieland & Hot Jazz upbringing as well as...
View ArticleJazz & Blues on the Grand | Concert Series
The Grand Concert Series, FREE | The Lansing City Market and WKAR are excited to announce the return of the summer concerts on the riverfront!
View ArticleLive Music Friday: Michael Dease
Our Live Music Friday guest is Michael Dease , a world-class trombone player who teaches in the MSU College of Music’s Jazz Studies program. His most recent album is “Father Figure.”
View ArticleLIVE MUSIC FRIDAY: Phil Denny
For Live Music Friday this week, we’ve invited jazz saxophone star Phil Denny back to Current State for a touch of Christmas as the holiday approaches.
View ArticleJazz clarinetist tired of musical sexism
All this week, the MSU College of Music has welcomed an Israeli jazz musician to jam with their students and do a tour around Michigan schools. WKAR’s Jamie Paisley has more with Anat Cohen .
View ArticleBeatles songs given the jazz treatment by Organissimo
There’s nothing new about cover versions of Beatles songs, but the local band Organissimo has decided to create jazzy renditions of some of your favorite Beatles tunes. It's called "B3tles: A Soulful...
View ArticleSummer Solstice Jazz Fest Preview with The Zach Adleman Quartet
East Lansing’s Summer Solstice Jazz Festival is this weekend. The festival begins today in downtown East Lansing and runs through Saturday night. Entry is free. The Zach Adleman Quartet stopped by the...
View ArticleLansing's Phil Denny Hosts Jazz Fete' Saturday
Lansing saxophonist/recording artist Phil Denny will host his inaugural Smooth Jazz Fete on Saturday, August 11. He talked with WKAR's Kevin Lavery about the lineup, venue and music on "Morning Edition."
View ArticleWayne State Approves Plan For $65M Performance Complex
Wayne State University officials have approved a plan to create a $65 million performance complex in Detroit's Midtown area.
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