The Hope College Jazz Ensemble will feature "Bug" on Thursday, Nov. 15, at 7:30 p.m. in the Knickerbocker Theatre.
The public is invited. Admission is free.
Bringing together the creative talents of five gifted musicians from across the United States who are also respected jazz educators, "Bug" is a decidedly original jazz collective built around the music of 2004 IAJE/Gil Evans Fellowship recipient James Miley.
The Hope College Jazz Ensemble will perform with "Bug" in the first half. "Bug" will perform on its own in the second half.
With Miley at the piano, ensemble members Peter Epstein (saxophonist and director of jazz studies, University of Nevada, Reno), guitarist Jeff Miley (Cuesta College), bassist Roger Shew (Fullerton College and Laguna Beach High School) and drummer Brian Hamada (Fresno-based freelance musician) concoct a fiery blend of the traditional and the modern, playing tunes ranging from free-jazz to contemporary fusion and everything in between.
"Murmur," the group's debut recording, features 10 original compositions: eight by James Miley, one by Jeff Miley, and one co-written by the two brothers and life-long musical partners. The pieces collected on the disc run the gamut from hard-hitting "industrial metal jazz" to lyrical waltzes, heavy swingers and fusion numbers to beautiful ballads.
Additional information may be obtained online at www.bugtet.com.
The Knickerbocker Theatre is located in downtown Holland at 86 E. Eighth St.