28th annual ISU Jazz Fest to feature public concerts Feb. 6-7

The 28th annual Idaho State University Jazz Festival will present public concerts on Feb. 6 and 7 featuring Grammy award-winning jazz tenor saxophonist Bob Mintzer and keyboardist Russell Ferrante.

A special performance by a quartet comprised of Mintzer, Ferrante and local musicians Aaron Miller and Shane Lindsay will be held on Friday, Feb. 6, from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. at Portneuf Valley Brewing. Cover for this limited seating special event will be $10 and seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 7 p.m.

On Saturday, Feb. 7, there will be performances and clinics from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. There will also be a 7:30 p.m. performance by the ISU Jazz Band featuring Mintzer’s compositions at the Stephens Performing Arts Center Jensen Grand Concert Hall. At this concert, Mintzer, Ferrante, Miller and Lindsay will also perform.

The Saturday morning and afternoon events are free and open to the public. Tickets for the evening performance are free to all ISU students, $4 for pre-college students, $6 for ISU staff and faculty and $8 for the general public.

In a career spanning more than four decades Mintzer has established an international reputation as one of jazz’s leading tenor saxophonists, composers and educators.

Ferrante has both performed with and produced records for artists including Joni Mitchell, Bobby McFerrin and Eric Marienthal. Both musicians are currently faculty members at the University of Southern California’s Thorton School of Music Jazz Studies program.

For more information contact Patrick Brooks at 208-282-3147, or email at broopatr@isu.edu.