Campus Connection

[caption id="attachment_29776" align="alignright" width="275"] London-based bassist Michael Janisch will return to his alma mater for the UW-La Crosse Jazz Festival, Saturday, Jan. 25.[/caption] London bassist and UW-L alum Michael Janisch to perform with his N.Y. Quintet London bassist Michael Janisch and his “Purpose Built” quintet are guest artists for this year’s UW-La Crosse Jazz Festival. They will join the UW-L Jazz Ensemble I along with the tri-state’s top high school groups in concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, in Valhalla, Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition. Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for others. Tickets may be purchased at the door. In addition to the evening concert middle school and high school jazz ensembles and combos will be performing from 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m. throughout Cartwright Center. The ensembles will perform for a panel of clinicians and have an on-stage critique following their performance. Workshops by UW-L Music Department faculty and the guest artists will run from 3–5 p.m. All activities are open to the public for $5. For a schedule of performing groups and more information visit www.uwlax.edu/jazzstudies/Festival.html About this year’s guest performer Michael Janisch, who studied bass at UW-L, is an award-winning electric and double bassist, composer, bandleader, producer, promoter, record label owner and educator who works across a broad spectrum of traditional, experimental, improvised and popular music. The Wisconsin native now based in London, England, has become an active and in-demand musician, as well as a lynchpin figure between U.S. and European artists. As an instrumentalist, critics, audiences and musicians know him for his bass sounds, technique, engaging improvisations and a supportive approach toward ensemble playing. Janisch can be heard as a bassist on more than 200 albums and regularly performs as a session musician. Comments among music critics include: "Michael Janisch is a commanding bassist, who brings a sinewy thrust to the ensemble with masterfulagility" says Downbeat Magazine. "Janisch is one of the few bass players out there who plays both electric and upright with equal facility, passion and musicality" says Bass Musician Magazine. Janisch is professor of jazz double bass at London’s Trinity Conservatoire of Music and the Royal Academy of Music. He gives master classes and lectures on all aspects of music making and business worldwide. Janisch’s Quintet includes Philip Dizack, trumpet; Patrick Cornelius, alto sax; Matthew Stevens, guitar; and Clarence Penn, drums. If you go— Who:  UW-L jazz musicians, regional high school jazz musicians and Bassist Michael Janisch with his “Purpose Built” Quintet What: UW-La Crosse Jazz Festival When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25 Where: Valhalla, Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition Admission: $10 for students; $15 for others. Tickets available at the door. Additional music: Middle school and high school jazz ensembles and combos will perform from 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m. throughout Cartwright Center. Open to the public for $5.