Stan Wheeler Memorial Jazz Concert Scheduled for April 6

The seventh annual Stan Wheeler Memorial Jazz Concert will take place on April 6 featuring the Yale Jazz Ensemble and the Reunion Jazz Ensemble. The concert, presented by Yale Law School and Yale University Bands, pays tribute to the late Yale Law School Professor and jazz musician Stan Wheeler. The event will take place at Yale Law School’s Levinson Auditorium on Sunday at 2 pm.

Reunion is a group of Yale Jazz Ensemble (YJE) alumni who, along with late professor and trumpeter Stanton Wheeler, were early members of the YJE in the 1970s. Professor Wheeler continued to play with the Yale Jazz Ensemble until his death in 2007. This year’s Reunion roster includes well-known jazz artists Bob Kolb (alto sax), Paul Lieberman (tenor sax and flute), Gary Bennett (bari sax), Steve Perrett (trumpet), Tony Lombardozzi (guitar), Jeff Fuller (bass), Paul Sullivan (piano) and Bob D’Angelo (drums).

The Yale Jazz Ensemble’s portion of the program will feature music by and with Paul Lieberman. Directed by music director Thomas C. Duffy, the YJE is a 17-piece big band that performs a wide variety of music, from Yale’s Benny Goodman archive to the newest and most progressive jazz compositions. The Ensemble has performed extensively in the United States and internationally at such noted venues as New York’s Village Vanguard and Iridium jazz clubs, and London’s Ronnie Scott’s. The YJE has performed with or opened for The Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, the Toshiko Akiyoshi/Lew Tabackin Big Band, the World Saxophone Quartet, Jane Ira Bloom, Jimmy Owens, and Branford Marsalis.

Admission to the concert is free and no tickets are required. Call (203) 432-4113 or visit http://www.yale.edu/yaleband.