MIAMI DADE COLLEGE’S HARD BOP JAZZ ENSEMBLE PERFORMS THROUGHOUT ITALY
~ Students Perform in Italian Festivals Alongside Contemporary Jazz Greats ~
MIAMI, October 25, 2007 – Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Hard Bop Jazz Ensemble was invited to perform at the prestigious Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia and several other festivals around Italy. The Umbria Festival, which took place this summer, is one of the most important jazz festivals in Europe with annual performances since 1973.
The MDC students participating in this experience included saxophonist Hery Paz, pianist Kemuel Roig, bassist Marcel Salas, and drummer Alexander Campos.
“This is a very special group of young musicians and their skills far surpass their years. They are deeply committed to their craft and promulgating jazz. I had no doubt that the Italian audiences would love their performances,” says Dr. Michael Di Liddo, MDC music professor.
The festival has hosted many of the world’s most significant figures in jazz, including Miles Davis, Chick Corea, Dizzy Gillespie, Wayne Shorter, Art Blakey and Herbie Hancock. This year’s festival included Keith Jarrett, Pat Metheny, Ornette Coleman and Sonny Rollins.
In addition to performing at the Umbria Festival, the group also performed in Florence and at a festival in Valdarno.
For additional information about the jazz program at the Wolfson Campus, please contact Dr. Di Liddo at: (305) 237-3930.
Media Contacts: Juan C. Mendieta, MDC director of communication, 305-237-7611, jmendiet@mdc.edu or Beverly C. Rodrigues, MDC director of media relations, 305-237-3949, brodrigu@mdc.edu or Jessica Delgado, 305-237-3359, jessica.delgado2@mdc.edu.
Other news releases from MDC’s Media Relations Department are available on the web at www.mdc.edu.