Jazz at the Sandbar returns this fall for its 36th year and, for the first time in two years, the longtime concert series is returning home to the Cove on the LSU New Orleans campus.
Jazz at the Sandbar was founded in 1990 by legendary jazz pianist and educator Ellis Marsalis, then a University music faculty member and the first Coca Cola Endowed Chair in Jazz Studies. His mission was to give students the opportunity to perform alongside established professional musicians in a live club setting. The eight-week series also brings many of its guest artists in to the classroom for clinics and master classes.
The fall series opens Oct. 7 with a faculty showcase featuring Jamison Ross, a GRAMMY Award winning artist, songwriter and producer who recently joined LSU New Orleans as the Alvin “Red” Tyler Endowed Professor of Music. Ross is also an alumnus of the University’s jazz program, where he earned a Master of Music. His debut album, Jamison, earned a GRAMMY nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album, and his career has included work with artists such as Jon Batiste, PJ Morton, Boz Scaggs and Tank and the Bangas. He is also a member of the GRAMMY Award winning collective Snarky Puppy.
The season continues Oct. 14 with Derek Douget leading a tribute to Ellis Marsalis featuring members of Marsalis’ band. The remaining lineup includes Kris Royal on Oct. 21, Yusa on Oct. 28, artist in residence Ingrid Jensen on Nov. 4, Chris Thomas on Nov. 11 and Oscar Rossignoli on Nov. 18.
Jazz at the Sandbar gives LSU New Orleans students the opportunity to learn directly from working musicians while carrying forward a jazz education tradition that began more than three decades ago.
