Campus Connection

[caption id="attachment_18329" align="alignright" width="308" caption="From left, Dave Pietro and Adriano Santos"][/caption]

NY saxophonist Dave Pietro to perform

New York City saxophonist Dave Pietro and his group, Embrace, are the 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. 26, 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 9 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. Pietro’s talents as a saxophonist, composer and educator have made him an in-demand musician who has performed at jazz clubs, jazz festivals, schools and concert halls in more than 30 countries throughout Asia, Australia, Europe, and North and South America. From 1994-2003 Pietro played lead alto saxophone and recorded six CDs with the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra. He has toured and/or recorded with the bands of Woody Herman, Lionel Hampton, Maynard Ferguson, Maria Schneider, The Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, John Fedchock, Mike Holober, Pete McGuinness and Arturo O’Farrill. As a leader, Pietro has released six CDs with musicians such as Dave Holland, Kenny Werner, Ben Monder, Bill Stewart, Brian Blade, Scott Colley, Scott Wendholt, Duduka De Fonseca, and Pete McCann. His fifth CD, “Embrace: Impressions of Brazil,” in 2004 was called “a triumph ... one of the most satisfying Brazilian jazz mixes since the first bossa nova tsunami” according to Judith Schlesinger of AllAboutJazz.com. The rhythm section from the “Embrace” recording, all masters of Brazilian jazz, will join Pietro for his La Crosse performance. They include Helio Alves on piano, Leonardo Cioglia on bass and Adriano Santos on drums. If you go— Who:  UW-L jazz musicians, regional high school jazz musicians and New York City saxophonist Dave Pietro and his group, Embrace What: UW-La Crosse Jazz Festival When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26 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 9 a.m.–3 p.m. throughout Cartwright Center. Open to the public for $5.