Special guest artist Gary Foster joins the ensemble on woodwinds for the group’s final concert of the season. Equally comfortable on clarinet, saxophone and flute, Foster is a freelance musician who is known for his acclaimed performances and recordings with groups led by the likes of Clare Fischer, Warne Marsh, Cal Tjader and Poncho Sanchez. He can be heard on numerous recordings from Natalie Cole’s “Unforgettable,” to solo recordings, and television and motion picture soundtracks including “Family Guy” and “Chicago” to name a few. He has received the Most Valuable Player Award for woodwind doubling from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Jazz Ensemble I consistently receives high scores and acclaim at major west coast jazz festivals, and is competing at this spring’s Reno Jazz Festival. They have been featured on a live radio broadcast across North America as part of the Playboy Jazz Festival, and in 1991 and 1992 won the Pacific Coast Collegiate Jazz Festival competing against groups from 50 colleges and universities in seven western states. Jazz Ensemble I has performed, by invitation, at many leading Southern California festivals, have produced four award-winning recordings and are currently at work on a fifth.

Under direction the director of Chuck Tumlinson the ensemble has appeared as part of an invitation-only tribute to Woody Herman, and annually at the Brea Jazz Festival. As a performer Tumlinson was trumpet soloist with the University of North Texas One O'clock Lab Band, and has appeared at the Wichita, Reno and Kool jazz festivals. He has performed with the Count Basie Orchestra, Dizzy Gillespie, Terence Blanchard, Mark Murphy and Ray Charles. As a composer/arranger, his works have been recorded by leading bands and performers throughout the country such as Pete Christlieb and Eric Marienthal.

Elizabeth Champion, College of the Arts at 657-278-2434