One of the nation’s top jazz ensembles will serenade the North Carolina Central University (NCCU) Eagles at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, at the NCCU Student Center, 500 Nelson St., in Durham.
Since 1969, the United States Navy Band Commodores have performed the best of big band jazz music for the naval force and the nation. The 18-member group, which recently added NCCU Jazz Studies alumnus Ryan Hansler ’12 to its ensemble, is known for its eclectic mix of traditional big band tunes, exciting jazz vocal arrangements and fresh instrumental melodies. The band has also performed alongside jazz greats, including Ray Charles, Branford Marsalis, Clark Terry, Grover Washington Jr., Chris Potter, Jerry Bergonzi, Eddie Daniels and James Moody.
The Nov. 8 concert, hosted by the NCCU Jazz Studies program, is also free to the public with registration required. Tickets can be reserved at https://bit.ly/USNavyBandCommodores. Gifts to the jazz studies program are also encouraged and can be donated at https://bit.ly/SupportNCCU. Please select the ‘Jazz Ensemble Studies Fund’ from the ‘I want to support’ drop-down menu.
For more information about the U.S. Navy Band Commodores concert and the NCCU Jazz Studies program, contact Thomas Taylor, assistant professor of jazz and percussion, at 919-530-6361 or [email protected].
