John Paulson Big Band jazz premiere is Nov. 17

The 17-piece John Paulson Big Band (JPBB) will debut in concert 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at the Winona Art Center, 5th and Franklin streets.  The group, comprised of area music educators and outstanding soloists from the Twin Cities, will perform blues-based contemporary jazz pieces composed and arranged by leader and tenor saxophonist John Paulson. Paulson is a former long-time professor of music at Saint Mary’s.

Seating is limited and tickets for the concert will only be available at the door one hour prior to the performance. Tickets are $10 or $5 for students and senior citizens. Come early and enjoy the paintings by Winona artist Andrew Foss. For more information, visit www.paulsonjazz.com, call (507) 454-4948 or  e- mail jpaulson@smumn.edu.

Paulson has been doing big band jazz arrangements for student groups for more than 20 years, and the goal of this concert is to perform these works with the best players in the area. A grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council has made this concert a reality. This concert, along with a John Paulson sextet concert in January, will be recorded and featured on an upcoming CD.  Profits from the sale of the CD will go to support the Music Access for All program.

Other members of the John Paulson Big Band include saxophonists Brian Koser (Austin),  Richard Rohrbaugh (Rochester), Dave Townsend (Rochester) and Ray Dretsky (Winona); trumpeters Warren Bandel (Rochester), Adam Meckler (Twin Cities), Jerry Paulson (Winona) and John Mundy (Wabasha); and trombonists Scott Agster (Twin Cities), John Sievers (Rochester), SMU’s Eric Heukeshoven and Tom Nalli (Winona).  The rhythm section is comprised of pianist Larry Price of SMU, drummer Rich MacDonald (Winona), guitarist Mike James (Onalaska) and bassist Eric Graham (Red Wing).