Luther College to host Jazz Night Oct. 12

A Luther College Jazz Night will be held Friday, Oct. 12, 9:15 p.m. in Marty’s Cyber-Café, located in the lower level of Dahl Centennial Union on the Luther Campus.

Jazz Night will feature performances by the Luther College Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Band. The jam sessions, part of the college’s homecoming weekend, are open to the public with no charge for admission.

Rooted in a tradition of strong band ensembles, jazz at Luther College has never been more prominent. The repertoire of the Jazz Orchestra ranges from early jazz to contemporary compositions and arrangements.

Juan Tony Guzmán, Luther associate professor of music and education, and Tom Bourcier, Luther instructor in music and theatre/dance, conduct the ensembles.

Guzmán holds the doctoral degree in music education from Florida State University, the bachelor’s degree from Luther College, and the master’s degree from Florida State University in music education. During the past 25 years Guzman has conducted choirs, bands, and orchestras in North America, Europe, Central and South America.

As a professional musician Bourcier has performed throughout the United States, Europe and the Caribbean. He is a member of the Bourcier, Julin and Wolff trio that performs original compositions in jazz, tango, and folk and blues styles. In 2000 the group released a CD and toured Tuscany, Italy. Bourcier’s first solo piano CD, “Steps” was released in March 2002.