HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The Hutchinson Community College Fine Arts department, with support from the Kansas Creative Arts Commission, will kick off its spring schedule with the annual Bryce Luty Jazz Festival concert on Friday, February 6 at 7:00 pm in the Stringer Fine Arts Center.
Now in its 51 st year, the festival was named for long-time HutchCC jazz instructor Bryce Luty following his passing in 2014. The concert will include performances by the HutchCC Concert Jazz Band, under the direction of Dr. Jack Cassidy, and the Bryce Luty Jazz Festival All Star Band.
The performance will feature guest artist Brian Lynch. Mr. Lynch is a past member of some of the most historic groups in jazz. He was a member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, the Horace Silver Quintet, and the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra. In addition, he has worked with Conrad Herwig, Charles McPherson, Phil Woods, Bennie Golson, and has had a long association with the great Latin jazz and salsa pianist Eddie Palmieri. In 2020, The Brian Lynch Big Band released its Grammy Award winning album The Omni-American Book Club. Mr. Lynch has performed and recorded with the best in popular music including Prince and Sheila E.
Mr. Lynch holds faculty positions at the University of Miami, New York University and the North Netherlands Conservatory. He has also conducted workshops at the Eastman School of Music, the University of North Texas and Columbia University. He is a graduate of the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music and holds a master’s degree from New York University.
The two-day Festival begins Thursday, February 5 and is geared for high school and middle school students. Each participating band will receive a clinic from guest artist Brian Lynch or one of two guest clinicians – Dr. Emma Taylor, who is currently the Professor of Bass at Millikin University and has performed with famed drummer Carl Allen from Kansas City and famed saxophonist Jim Snidero, or Dr. Kurt Reeder, an expert in Brazilian and Afro-Caribbean styles as well as a highly sought after jazz organist. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University (BM), California State University (MM) and received his Doctorate in Jazz Studies from the University of Illinois.
Tickets for the concert are just $10.00 for adults, $8.00 for senior citizens, $5.00 for high school students and children, with Hutchinson Community College students/faculty/staff admitted free with a valid college ID. Tickets are available by calling the Fine Arts ticket office at 620-665- 3503. Advance purchase of tickets is recommended.
For more information on the Fine Arts Department at Hutchinson Community College, visit the college website at www.hutchcc.edu/finearts.
