Internationally-Known Jazz Trombonist Coming to MAC October 17

Jazz enthusiasts take musical note.

Mineral Area College will host a special performance from internationally-known jazz trombonist Bill Watrous, who will perform at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 17, at MAC’s Fine Arts Theatre on the Park Hills campus. Tickets are $7 for students and faculty from area schools and $10 for the public, available at MAC’s Bookstore or at the door the night of the concert.

Watrous, 74, is widely known among fellow trombonists as a master of technique. His career took off in the 1960s, playing with such jazz names as Quincy Jones, Woody Herman, Maynard Ferguson and Kai Winding. He played in the Merv Griffin Show house band from 1965-68.

Music Instructor Dan Schunks knows of Watrous as not only all of those things, but a leader in educating the next generation of jazz performers, as well.

“He’s visited this area quite a few times,” Schunks said, “and the students always get a lot out of his personal attention to their performance. It makes an amazing difference, and we’re especially flattered that he particularly asked to come to Mineral Area College.”

Schunks said that in addition to performing in concert Thursday night, Watrous will work with some local high schools bands that day who will visit the college for one-hour clinics beginning at 9 a.m. that morning.

He’ll actually be in the area on Wednesday, when he’ll rehearse with the MAC Jazz Ensemble, and then rehearse with the MAC Kicks Band for the Thursday night concert.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to hear one of the top five jazz trombonists of all time, in as intimate a setting as the MAC Fine Arts Theatre,” Schunks said. “Anyone who likes jazz will consider it a fantastic treat, but anyone who loves jazz will consider it a thrill.”