Jeff Haas Quartet & Phoenix Ensemble Rock Dennos Museum
With Haas' Jazz/Blues/Classical/World Mix

Traverse City, MI - The Dennos Museum Center at Northwestern Michigan College presents the Jeff Haas Quartet and the Phoenix Ensemble in an evening of engaging original music that blends jazz, blues, classical and world music. The performance will take place in Milliken Auditorium on Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 8:00 pm.

Composer, pianist and educator Jeff Haas was commissioned to write music that included elements of both the jazz, classical and world music traditions. The result is a 55-minuite, seven-movement suite called the Age of Confluence scored for jazz quartet and string quartet. “At times, the music also has a blues sensibility. Age [of Confluence] was a real challenge to write – it took me eight months to complete. Audiences of all kinds and ages have responded well to it”, says Haas. “Many people seem to walk away singing one of the lyrical melodies from one movement or another. And even in the more complex sections, there is a rhythmic or melodic motif for the listener to hang their hat.”

The Jeff Haas Quartet will include Marion Hayden on bass, Alex Trajano on drums and multi-instrumentalist Rob Smith on trumpet and saxes. “It’s a great group with resumes that read like the who’s who of jazz, R & B and Motown rock. For example, Rob spent a several weeks touring with Diane Reeves last year. She can call anyone on the world and she called Rob. They did Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center and he was the only horn player in her small ensemble! And Alex has been on the road with a dynamite rock band called Bright Out.’, relates Haas.

The Phoenix Ensemble is based in Ann Arbor and has performed throughout the world. The group has tackled projects in a variety of genres including rock, jazz, tango and world music. Bandleader and first violinist Gabe Bolkosky explains, “Although we are stepped in and perform much of the classical literature, everyone enjoys the challenge of moving into new music. With Age of Coinflunece, Jeff has created a space the group inhabits that is a hybrid of jazz, classical and world. And it grooves and engages the listener. It’s definitely cool stuff.” The Phoenix Ensemble includes Gabe Bolkosky and Alicia Doudha on violin, Rebecca Albers on viola and cellist Mary Ann Ramos.

Tickets for the March 15th performance are $25 in advance and $28 at the door.  A wine and edibles reception with the artists will take place immediately following the performance. For tickets, call (231) 995-1553 or visit www.dennosmuseum.org.

The Dennos Museum Center is open daily 10 AM to 5 PM and Sundays 1-5 PM. Admission is $4.00 adults, $2.00 for children and free to museum members. For more information on the Museum and exhibition, go to www.dennosmuseum.org or call 231-995-1055. The Dennos Museum Center is located at 1701 East Front Street, Traverse City, MI 49686, at the entrance to the campus of Northwestern Michigan College.