Augusta University Pamplin College of the Arts announced its upcoming concert series on Thursday afternoon with a small impromptu concert, celebrating Wycliffe Gordon Day.
Former Augusta Mayor Deke Copenhaver declared the day in honor of the renowned, local-born jazz musician on Aug. 17, 2007. The school used the occasion to spread the word about its 33rd Harry Jacobs Concert Series.
In a small, free public show in the Recital Hall at the school’s Fine Arts Center, Gordon, who is also director of jazz studies at AU, was accompanied by former student T.J. Barnes on the piano, playing renditions of “On the Sunny Side of the Street” as performed by Louis Armstrong, and the jazz standard “Caravan.”
Gordon joked that normally he does “absolutely nothing” on his special day, as he spends so much of his time working — which includes playing, arranging, composing and teaching music.
“After being on the road, with all the conflict and hoopla, traveling and performing… when I come home, I kind of just like to be quiet,” said the world-famous trombonist. “But I think it’s time I make a little noise, now.”
Department of Music Chair Angela Morgan outlined the department’s concerts scheduled for the year, including the Jacobs Series and the new Faculty Artist Series.
This forthcoming season of the concert series coordinated by the Harry Jacobs Chamber Music Society, will consist of four shows through the rest of the year, and into 2024.
The first, “Hausmusik Concert,” will be on Thursday, Sept. 7, at 7 p.m., in the Maxwell Theatre on the university’s Summerville campus, and will feature soprano Diana Thompson Brewer, with pianist Christopher Cooley. Brewer recently joined the AU Music Department’s faculty as lecturer of music in voice and opera.
Gordon also gave note of his own upcoming show at the university, “Duke Ellington, the Sacred Music,” in which he will a lead an all-jazz ensemble, performing with a mass choir and other vocalists. An homage to the jazz legend, the concert will include various means — including dance — to “celebrate spiritual uplifting.”
“It’s a big to-do with Duke Ellington, mostly known for playing jazz,” Gordon said. “But you get more into his pensive and his spiritual side.”
“Duke Ellington, the Sacred Music” will be at the Maxwell on Nov. 17, at 7 p.m.
Before concluding his performance, Gordon spoke about the Wycliffe Gordon Jazz Scholarship Endowment, a music scholarship funded by donations for outstanding jazz students.
“It’s something I always wanted to take part in, bringing my experiences from around the world to this community,” Gordon said.
For more information on Augusta University’s concert schedule, visit https://www.augusta.edu/harryjacobs/.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
