June 04, 2008

Music Festival events planned in Murphysboro

by Andrea Hahn

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Two free performances just for children come to Murphysboro this month as part of the Southern Illinois University Carbondale Southern Illinois Music Festival.

On June 14, the New Arts Jazztet brings Jive with Jazz to the Murphysboro Youth and Recreation Center for a performance beginning at 10 a.m. The program introduces jazz music and the instruments that make it to children ages 3 to 12. It’s a way to show youngsters a different side of popular culture than they may typically see and hear.

New Arts Jazztet features Bob Allison, trumpet and flugelhorn; Tim Pitchford, trombone; Phil Brown, bass; Ron Coulter, drums and percussion; and Mel Goot, piano. All Jazztet members live a double life as SIUC music professors. New Arts Jazztet is known for its original works, influenced by neo-bop and contemporary jazz. The group performs all over Southern Illinois and at hot jazz spots in other areas, including Chicago, St. Louis and Cincinnati.

Klassics for Kids comes to the Youth and Recreation Center at 10 a.m. on June 28. This program is similar to Jive with Jazz, but the focus is on classical music instead and the optimum age-range is younger -- ages birth to 8 years old. Ron Coulter, SIUC and New Arts Jazztet percussionist, leads this presentation. Percussion instruments, he said, tend to be popular with the little ones.

Here are details on the Murphysboro events:

2008 Southern Illinois Music Festival

June 14

Jive with Jazz -- New Arts Jazztet, 10 a.m. at Murphysboro Youth and Recreation Center, free admission.

June 28

Klassics for Kids -- Ron Coulter, percussion, 10 a.m. at Murphysboro Youth and Recreation Center, free admission.

More information, a complete schedule of all events and locations, and any late changes are at www.SIFest.com.

Sponsors include: SIUC, Illinois Arts Council, The Southern Illinoisan newspaper, WSIL-TV Channel 3 ABC, WSIU Public Broadcasting, Peoples National Bank, Laborers’ Union International-Local 773, Southern Illinois Miners, Mélange Coffee House, the Harrison, Hastings, Moore-Corpora, Southern and Garwin Family Foundations, Drs. Hal and Susan Pearlman, Dr. Samuel Goldman, First Southern Bank, Crawford County Arts, Lebanon Fine Arts, BoundlessGallery.com, Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, Carbondale Community Arts, and the Southern Illinois Symphony Patrons Committee.