Jan. 3, 2001

Contact Scott Barkhurst (541) 346-1163 or John R. Crosiar 346-3135

EUGENE–Jazz saxophonist Bob Mintzer, of the famed Yellowjackets jazz group, will be the featured guest artist with the Oregon Jazz Ensemble in the single concert marking the start of winter term at the University of Oregon School of Music, 961 E. 18th Ave.

The concert is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 20, in Beall Concert Hall,
961 E. 18th Ave. It is the concluding event in the annual Oregon Jazz Celebration, an all-day series of workshops and clinics for Northwest high school jazz ensembles hosted by the UO music school.

The opening set will feature an all-star group from the day’s participating ensembles. Then, Mintzer will join the Oregon Jazz Ensemble for the remainder of the program.

Tickets, available at the door, are $10 general admission and $7 for students and senior citizens.

Mintzer’s hallmark is diversity. Aside from being a tenor and soprano saxophonist, he also plays flutes and clarinets, and is world-renowned as a composer, arranger and educator. Mintzer has been active in the jazz, pop, orchestra, Latin and world music genres.

As a player on more than 300 recordings, Mintzer has performed and/or recorded with Buddy Rich, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band, Louie Bellson, Jaco Pastorious, Michael Franks, the Yellowjackets, Take Six, Bobby McFerrin, Dave Liebman, Randy Brecker, George Gruntz, Steve Winwood, Diana Ross, Queen, the American Saxophone Quartet, New York Philharmonic, Tito Puente, Eddie Palmiere and Mongo Santamaria.

As a leader, Mintzer has recorded 11 big band CDs for the DMP label with four Grammy nominations, and eight small-group jazz CDs for the BMG, OWL, Canyon and DMP labels.

Mintzer is a 10-year member of the contemporary jazz group The Yellowjackets. The band has received numerous Grammy nominations and is a regular participant at major jazz festivals throughout the world. Mintzer has recorded eight CDs with the ‘Jackets and works with them four months out of the year. He performs with his own big band periodically and works with many other bands. He also serves as a guest conductor and soloist on an ongoing basis and has a working jazz quartet.

The educational scene is vital to keeping music alive for Mintzer. He performs at 20 workshops annually and maintains a busy schedule teaching private saxophone at the Manhattan School of Music. Warner Bros. Publications has published two jazz etudes books by Mintzer titled "14 Jazz & Funk Etudes" and "14 Jazz and Blues Etudes. Kendor Music also publishes the Bob Mintzer Series big band collection as well as a saxophone quartet, saxophone method book and small band arrangements.

For more information, call the music school weekdays at (541) 346-5678. To confirm concert times and ticket information, call GuardLine from a Touch-Tone phone at 485-2000, ext. 2533, for a 24-hours-a-day taped message of the week’s events.

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