The 4th Annual McPherson College Jazz Festival brings some of Kansas City’s finest talents to the stage on November 2 at the McPherson Opera House for an evening of musical entertainment. Clint Ashlock, trumpeter, composer, and educator will perform with his ensemble featuring lead singer and American Idol contestant Jessica Paige.
The McPherson College Jazz Band and the McPherson High School Jazz Band will perform a warm-set at 7 p.m. prior to the concert at 7:30 p.m.
The jazz festival will bring more than 22 jazz bands from middle schools and high schools throughout central Kansas to McPherson College during the day for jazz performances in Brown and Mingenback auditoriums. Ashlock and his ensemble will serve as adjudicators and clinicians to each band. More than 400 students are expected to participate.
Ashlock is the artistic director and conductor for the esteemed Kansas City Jazz Orchestra. He has performed with such luminaries as Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, and Natalie Cole and is a mainstay on the local KC jazz circuit as a soloist and with his own combos. Paige competed in season 15 of American Idol and has produced one album “Sweet Nothings.”
Tickets for the concert are available online at mcphersonoperahouse.org. McPherson College will host an alumni meet and greet reception with the artists after the performance.