WCC Jazz Ensemble to Perform at Baker's Keyboard Lounge

Washtenaw Community College [WCC] Jazz Ensemble To Perform At Legendary Jazz Club

Baker’s Keyboard Lounge In Detroit To Host Father’s Day Celebration

WCC Performance Scheduled From 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 15th

Why: As a way to showcase up-and-coming student jazz musicians – Randall Mosley, general manager at Detroit’s Baker’s Keyboard Lounge – is inviting student musicians to play at the legendary music venue as part of its new student jazz performance series.

According to John E. Lawrence, chair of the WCC Performing Arts Department, this partnership, a first for the college, will showcase WCC music students in a renowned professional venue in the City of Detroit.

“The WCC Jazz Ensemble is such a valuable asset to the college and our Music Performance Program because they will serve as ambassadors to the greater community. The fact that they are performing at the historic Baker's Keyboard Lounge is significant on many levels and we look forward to many more appearances,” said Lawrence.

“All of the great jazz masters have played at Baker’s – such as: John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, Betty Carter, Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell, Joe Pass, Earl Klugh, Myles Davis and many more. For our students to share the same stage as these legends and walk in the footprints of their greatness, is an incredible honor, Lawrence concluded.”

What: The Washtenaw Community College Jazz Ensemble is comprised of 4 students currently enrolled in the college’s music production engineering certificate program.

Who: Washtenaw Community College Jazz Ensemble 

· Shawn Wayne Donaldson is a guitarist, recording artist and arranger who started writing songs at the age of 14.  Despite his visual impairment, and from a very young age, Donaldson displayed a remarkable aptitude for a variety of artistic media. 

· Paul Goff-Stoner is a professional drummer, teacher and recording artist. Goff-Stoner has been studying the drums for 14 years and has been trained by professional musicians such as Ryan Edwards, the leader of Like Water Drum and Dance and Theo Katzman, a graduate student from the University of Michigan's Jazz Department.

· William Marshall Bennett has been playing piano since age two and composing music since age five. He has been playing professionally since the age of twelve and performs in many styles ranging from classical, ragtime, American Songbook, jazz, and rock and roll.  Some of his influences include Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Fats Waller, Teddy Wilson, James Booker, Donald Fagen, and Elton John.

· Rafael Freitas is a musician from Bahia, Brazil and plays bass guitar. He began his professional music career many years ago playing guitar and electric guitar with different bands and solo artists in pubs, weddings, and ceremonies throughout Brazil.

The WCC Jazz Ensemble will perform a repertoire of music in honor of Father’s Day including:

·        “Song For My Father” by Horace Silver

·        “The Girl From Ipanima” Antonio Carlos Jobim

·        “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” by Joe Zawinul

·        “Autumn Leaves” by Hungarian-French composer Joseph Kosm

·        “Wave” by Antonio Carlos Jobim

·        “Blue Bossa” by Kenny Dorham

·        “Chameleon” by Herbie Hancock

·        “Sir Duke” by Stevie Wonder

·        “Isn't She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder

·        “Just the Two of Us” by Bill Withers/Ralph MacDonald

·        “Amazing Grace” by John Newton

·        “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder

·        “Moondance” by Van Morrison

When: Father’s Day, Sunday, June 15th from 5 to 7 p.m.

Where: Baker’s Keyboard Lounge, 20510 Livernois Avenue, Detroit, Michigan, Phone: (313) 345-6300, or visit www. bakerskeyboardlounge.com.