It's the return of GPB-Augusta’s “Jazz At The G” concert series-- one of the first big campus and community events of the fall 2015 Semester -- Saturday September 12th, 6pm, outdoors at The D. Douglas Barnard Jr. Amphitheatre on GRU Augusta's Summerville Campus

When we wrapped the inaugural season last spring with a sold-out performance by Wycliffe Gordon and His International All Star Band -- showcasing a bassist from Japan, reed player from Australia, pianist from Israel, and drummer from North Carolina -- we knew we'd set the bar pretty high. We couldn’t even squeeze any more people into the “Standing Room Only” area. Amazing! (Check out #JazzAtTheG Season One video highlights.)

And we’re going to try and top a spectacular Season One as we launch Season Two on September 12th.

Here’s what we’ve come up with:

Wycliffe Gordon Gordon rarely performs with the group of versatile musicians who will join him on stage for this performance. With more players and more instruments on stage, this ensemble allows him to "stretch out" -- ignoring musical boundaries and bringing a new kind of energy and improvisation to the presentation. It's Wycliffe Gordon cutting loose, having fun with some incredibly talented musicians, and bringing the audience along for the ride.

The Mike Frost Band Featuring Lauren Meccia Mike Frost is a world class bassist who is always exciting in concert, but with the addition of Lauren Meccia (pronounced “Met-cha”) to the ensemble, well...Wow! Just Wow! She is a brilliant jazz saxophonist and vocalist. If you are not familiar with her work, here's a sampling.

The Travis Shaw Trio This introspective group of young musicians is unique, in that they play acoustic instruments exclusively, including Travis on the big, upright double bass. The Travis Shaw Trio is particularly enjoyable in venues like The Barnard Amphitheatre because of the purity of the sound you only experience outdoors.

The show also includes a performance by a contingent of student musicians from The GRU Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Rob Foster.

Tickets are on sale at The Maxwell Theatre Box Office on GRU’s Summerville Campus, and online at GRU.EDU/MaxwellTheatre. This year’s tickets are “adorably priced”, with special discounts for children, students with school ID’s, and active military. Bring your blankets, picnic baskets, and lawn chairs because seating is on the grass-covered terraces of The Barnard Amphitheater. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will move indoors to the Jaguar Student Activity Center Ballroom adjacent to the amphitheatre. In the words of Wycliffe Gordon, “You Gotta Be At Jazz At The G!"

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#JazzAtTheG

@GPBradioaugusta