Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - The University of Wisconsin-Platteville's Center for the Arts will present Marcus Belgrave in "The Louis Armstrong Tradition" as part of the 2004-2005 Performing Arts Series on Friday, April 8 at 8 p.m.

"The Louis Armstrong Tradition" is a moving tribute to the charismatic and innovative jazz trumpeter. This concert is made up of songs that span the career of Louis Armstrong. Belgrave has arranged Armstrong's classic solos and recordings from the 1920s and 1930s. These include "Satchel Mouth Swing," "Old Man Mose," and "Stardust." The show also moves into the 1950s and 1960s, the decades in which Armstrong had his biggest hits. "Hello Dolly," "What a Wonderful World," and "A Kiss to Build a Dream On" are at the top of the list in this category. Belgrave is accompanied by an eight piece ensemble that includes Charles Gabriel on clarinet and tenor sax and Pete Siers on drums.

A convincing portrayal of Armstrong is vital to this show. Fortunately, Belgrave possesses the three main traits that evoke the spirit of Louis Armstrong. Belgrave has been blessed with a low, gravelly voice, is an amazing jazz trumpeter, and has a warm stage presence. He has been hailed as Detroit's "Godfather of Jazz," due, in part, to his creation of the Jazz Development Workshop and his co-creation of the Jazz Studies Program at the Detroit Metro Arts Complex.

Aside from his contributions to Detroit's jazz scene, Belgrave has worked with a number of noted artists in America's musical history. In addition to extensive collaboration and touring with Ray Charles, Belgrave has worked with Ella Fitzgerald, Max Roach, Charles Mingus, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Wynton Marsalis and Dizzy Gillespie.

Belgrave was one of the original handpicked members of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. He has been awarded the Arts Midwest's Jazz Master Award (1991), the Michigan Governor's Arts Award (1994), and, fittingly, the Louis Armstrong Award (1995).

The evening will feature a pre-show dinner with a Southern theme at 6 p.m. Tickets for the dinner must be purchased three days in advance and are $13 each. A free pre-show discussion with Belgrave is planned in the CFA at 7:05 p.m.

Tickets for this event are $20 for general admission; UWP faculty/staff, $18; senior citizen, $18; children under 18, $12; and UWP students, $8.

All Performing Arts Series performances begin at 8 p.m. and tickets are available through the university box office in the Center for the Arts. The university box office is open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and can be reached by calling (608) 342-1298. The university box office is located in the lobby of the Center for the Arts on the UWP campus on West Main Street. More information on the Performing Arts Series can be found at uwplatt.edu/arts/cfa.

Contact: John Hassig, CFA director of Performing and Visual Arts. 608-342-1267,hassigj@uwplatt.edu Prepared by: Rebecca Dow, Rebecca_A_Dow@hotmail.com Formatted by: Evelyn Martens, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, martense@uwplatt.edu