Jazz Tentet Opens 25th Year for UK Spotlight Jazz Series

JAZZ TENTET OPENS 25TH YEAR
FOR UK SPOTLIGHT JAZZ SERIES

The Tentet, a collection of top jazz performers from the United States, Sweden and Germany, is led by German saxophonist Peter Brotzmann. Its featured players include 1998 MacArthur Award winner Ken Vandermark, Mars Williams, Joe McPhee, Mats Gustafsson, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Jeb Bishop, Kent Kessler, Hamid Drake and Michael Zerang.

June 6, 2002 (Lexington, Ky.) -- The University of Kentucky will unofficially kickoff the 25th year of its Spotlight Jazz music series Wednesday, June 12, with a concert by the Peter Brotzmann Chicago Tentet. The Tentet, a collection of top jazz performers from the United States, Sweden and Germany, is led by German saxophonist Peter Brotzmann.

Its featured players include 1998 MacArthur Award winner Ken Vandermark, Mars Williams, Joe McPhee, Mats Gustafsson, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Jeb Bishop, Kent Kessler, Hamid Drake and Michael Zerang.

They will play two sets beginning at 8 p.m. in Memorial Hall. The concerts are free and open to the public.

Before the concerts, Rakadu Gypsy Dance, the region's foremost tribal-style belly dance troupe led by Teresa Tomb of Lexington's Mecca Dance Studio, will perform on the steps of Memorial Hall.

In the week previous to these events, a documentary film featuring Brotzmann will be shown at Natasha's Café on Tuesday, June 4, and at UK's William T. Young Library on Thursday, June 6. Both free screenings will begin at 8 p.m. and will be followed by an improvised musical performance.

Spotlight Jazz, one of the longest running collegiate jazz series in the nation, is co-sponsored by the UK Student Activities Board and the UK African-American Student Affairs Office. This event is co-sponsored by the Lexington Action Arts Collective, a non-profit group of artists, musicians, community organizers and arts audience members, and WRFL, UK's student-run radio station.