Denison University's 9th annual Jazz Guitar Festival, featuring a series of clinics and two concerts, is scheduled for Saturday (Oct. 8) and Sunday (Oct. 9). Jazz guitar artists Gene Bertoncini and Jack Wilkins are among this year's featured artists. Tom Carroll, an instructor in Denison's music department and well-known local musician, organized the annual event, which will be among the highlights of Parents' Weekend. All events are free and open to the public.

The festival opens with an afternoon of clinics running from noon until 5 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 8) in Burke Hall Rehearsal Room. The clinics scheduled are: "Theory for Guitarists" with Stan Smith at noon; "Working with a Rhythm" with Chris Buzzelli at 1:30 p.m.; "Guitar Maker" with Tom Davis at 2:30 p.m.; "How to Produce an Album" with Tim Cummiskey at 3:30 p.m. and "Ask Jack and Gene," a question and answer session with guitar legends Bertoncini and Wilkins. Saturday night's concert, titled "An Evening of the Great American Songbook," featuring Bertoncini and Wilkins, will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Burke Recital Hall. The festival concludes with a grand finale concert at 3 p.m. on Sunday (Oct. 9) in Burke and includes Bertoncini, Wilkins, Carroll, Buzzelli, Cummiskey and Smith.

Returning for his sixth Denison visit, Bertoncini has firmly established himself as one of the most eloquent and versatile masters of the guitar. His performances integrate jazz, classical, pop and bossa nova styles with his own improvisations. Bertoncini has worked with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the Benny Goodman Sextet, Tony Bennett, Lena Horne and Paul Desmond, to name a few.

A native of Brooklyn, Wilkins began playing guitar at age 13. His mentors include Johnny Smith, Django Reinhardt, Wes Montgomery and Freddie Hubbard. In recent years Wilkins has performed at many international festivals such as the Newport Jazz Festival, the Kool Jazz Festival, the International Guitar Festival and the Switzerland Jazz Festival. He also conducts seminars and guitar clinics both in New York and internationally. Among the long list of artists that he has recorded or performed with are Stan Getz, Sarah Vaughn, Chet Baker, Earl Hines, Ray Charles, Manhattan Transfer, Tony Bennett and Benny Goodman. Wilkins lives in Manhattan and teaches at The New School and Manhattan School of Music. He was recently invited to judge the Monk Institute Guitar Competitions in Washington.

Buzzelli, Cummiskey, and Smith also are all past festival performers. Smith is head of the jazz and contemporary guitar curriculum at Capital University as well as a guitarist for the Columbus Symphony Pops Series. Buzzelli, who plays the 7-string guitar, directs the guitar program at Bowling Green State University and has recorded a number of albums. Cummiskey, another 7-string guitar player, is a member of the faculty at the Ohio State University and at Kenyon College. He currently leads several groups ranging form solo jazz and classical guitar to duos, trios, and a quintet.

Carroll has been an instructor in Denison's music department since 1980. The Beatles and The Rolling Stones drew him into music. He has performed with Ernie Watts, Marvin Stamm, Rusty Bryant and Gary Carney and leads his own ensemble, The Tom Carroll Trio. He also is the organizer of theBlues Fest, which attracted large audiences at its recent weekend concerts.

Calendar Listing:

CALENDAR LISTING: Denison University, Granville -- Jazz Guitar Festival clinics with Chris Buzzelli, Tim Cummiskey, Stan Smith, and Tom Carroll from noon until 5 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 8) in Burke Hall Rehearsal Room (240 W. Broadway, Granville). Free and open to the public. Contact: (740) 587-6220 to confirm information.

CALENDAR LISTING: Denison University, Granville -- Jazz Guitar Festival concert, "An Evening of the Great American Songbook," featuring jazz guitar legends Gene Bertoncini and Jack Wilkins at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 8) in Burke Recital Hall (240 W. Broadway, Granville). Contact: (740) 587-6220 to confirm information.

CALENDAR LISTING: Denison University, Granville -- Jazz Guitar Festival grand finale concert featuring Gene Bertoncini and Jack Wilkins, and local jazz artists Tom Carroll, Tim Cummiskey and Stan Smith; Sunday (Oct. 9) at 3 p.m. in Burke Recital Hall (240 W. Broadway, Granville). Contact: (740) 587-6220 to confirm information.

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

Position Title

Director, Media Relations

Primary Email

stambaughb@denison.edu

Business Phone

(740) 587-8575