Northwest's Jazz Ensemble and Studio Jazz Ensemble, pictured above during a February 2020 concert, will perform an outdoor concert Monday at the Raymond J. Courter College Park Pavilion. (Photo by Amanda Wistuba/Northwest Missouri State University)

The sounds of African-American music will fill the air Monday evening as the Northwest Missouri State University Jazz Ensemble and the Studio Jazz Ensemble perform an outdoor concert featuring a pair of guest soloists.

The concert, which is free and open to the public, begins at 6 p.m. at the Raymond J. Courter Pavilion. All attendees must follow Northwest’s COVID-19 mitigation measures, which include wearing face coverings and maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet from others. Because no seating will be provided, attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets or other seating.

The concert also will be streamed live on YouTube.  

Singer Leslie Stone and trumpeter Bob Harvey are joining the ensembles for the concert.

“The Northwest Studio Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble have spent a great deal of time preparing for this performance, and I couldn’t be more proud of their fine work,” Dr. William Richardson, the conductor of the jazz ensembles and Northwest’s Dennis C. Dau Professor of Instrumental Music, said.

“As with all performing groups worldwide, we have taken the present-day public health issue very seriously. Our students have rehearsed with masks, bell covers, 6-plus feet of distance and limited rehearsal time, based on recommendations from scientists and public health experts. This is our first opportunity to perform together, and we are very excited to play some fantastic music for people.”

Both the Studio Jazz Ensemble and the Jazz Ensemble – Northwest's premiere, audition-based jazz group – perform music representing a variety of styles. The ensembles perform multiple concerts on the Northwest campus annually, and the Jazz Ensemble regularly tours the four-state region.

For more information about these and other musical ensembles at Northwest, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/finearts/.