The Lamar University Cardinal Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Lab Band will present their first concert of the fall semester on Thursday, October 11, at 7:30 p.m. in the Rothwell Recital Hall on the LU Campus.

The Cardinal Jazz Orchestra, directed by Rick Condit, will also feature Houston jazz trumpet legend Dennis Dotson.

Dotson has been a professional trumpeter for 50 years, having played in the house bands in Las Vegas and freelanced in New York City and Houston, Texas, where he currently lives. Dotson previously served as trumpet soloist in the Woody Herman and Buddy Rich big bands and as a small group player has performed alongside Joe Lovano, Joe Henderson, Marvin Stamm and David Liebman. Dotson has also performed in big bands with music greats such as Carl Fontana, Bobby Shew, Tom Harrell and Kenny Wheeler. He has served on the faculty at Houston Community College, where he taught private lessons in trumpet and improvisation and has been jazz trumpet instructor at the University of Houston. He has led several All-Region high school jazz bands and has been a guest soloist/adjudicator/clinician at more than 40 high schools and colleges. He is very active as a trumpet player in jazz and commercial circles throughout the state of Texas, has performed with the Houston Symphony Orchestra and has been a sideman on numerous jazz recordings.

During this evening, the Cardinal Jazz Orchestra will also pay special tribute to the late trumpeter, composer and band leader Thad Jones, playing three of his original works written for the band he co-led with drummer Mel Lewis in the 1960s and 70s.

“The Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra was extremely important in music history for being at the forefront of the big band revival that began in the mid 1960s. It was made up of many of the most well-known musicians in New York City at the time. This band began a standing Monday night gig at The Village Vanguard which continues to this day,” said Condit. “This is wonderful music and should not be missed.”

The Jazz Lab Band, directed by Dr. Tim Dueppen, will also make its debut performance at the concert. Student interest in the jazz ensemble program has allowed for the formation of this additional full jazz band.

Admission to the concert is free of charge and open to the public. For more information about the concert or the Mary Moore Morgan Department of Music, please visit their website at www.lamar.edu/music.