Guest artist Michael Mayo will perform with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Jazz Singers at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 24 in Kimball Recital Hall. The concert is free and open to the public.
Mayo is a vocalist, composer, songwriter and arranger based in Los Angeles. He attended the New England Conservatory of Music and The Thelonius Monk Institute of UCLA (now the Hancock Institute of Jazz). His CDs include “Bones” and “Fly.”
The program will include Mayo’s original compositions and arrangements, adapted by Glenn Korff School of Music Lecturer and University of Nebraska-Lincoln Jazz Singers Director David von Kampen for Mayo to perform with the group. The Jazz Singers will perform with Mayo on “Another Love,” “20/20”, “Four,” “Bag of Bones” and “Fly.”
“This is a remarkable opportunity to hear one of the best jazz vocalists in the world,” von Kampen said. “Michael has come on the scene quickly and made a huge impact on the vocal jazz community. His vocal ability and compositional voice are both so strong. This is definitely one concert not to miss.”
Von Kampen said the university Jazz Singers have been listening to—and marveling at—Mayo’s recordings for several years.
“He’s released some of the very coolest vocal jazz records of this decade,” Von Kampen said. “When I told the group this was happening, I could feel something shift in the air. We’re tremendously excited for the opportunity.”
It will also be a chance for the university Jazz Singers to perform in the newly renovated Kimball Recital Hall for the first time.
“It’s beautiful, and it’s going to sound amazing,” von Kampen said.
