Jazz Lounge Listening Series Comes to ESU

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Posted by: Elizabeth Richardson on March 2, 2018, No Comments

The library at East Stroudsburg University isn’t always quiet. Once a month the sounds of jazz welcome students to Kemp Library. On Wednesday, February 28 the Jazz Lounge Listening Series kicked off in the library’s Jazz Lounge.

“This is something I have been thinking about for a long time,” said Matt Vashlishan, D.M.A , jazz program coordinator. “The Jazz Lounge was always a place that housed the Al Cohn Memorial Jazz Collection, but now we are bringing some music in the collection to life.”

Dr. Vashlishan has chosen a different record to play each month. Using his knowledge of jazz, he chose albums he thinks students will be interested in while showing that jazz can be portrayed in a variety of ways. “I want people to know jazz isn’t just one thing, or one type of sound. It isn’t just old music.” The selections, Vashlishan says, have something for every musical taste and you don’t have to be a jazz expert to come in and enjoy the music.

The Jazz Lounge Listening Series is open to the public at no cost and has a very minimal education component. “We don’t want people to shy away because they are nervous about this being a lecture-style event. We want everyone to come to the Jazz Lounge, listen to the music and become absorbed in it.”

The dates and records for the upcoming Jazz Lounge Listening Series are:

  • Wednesday, March 28, 7 p.m. – Somethin’ Else, Cannonball Adderley
  • Wednesday, April 18, 7 p.m. – The Brecker Bros., Michael Brecker
  • Wednesday, May 30, 7 p.m. – Blue Train, John Coltrane
  • Wednesday, June 27, 7 p.m. – Now He Sings, Now He Sobs, Chick Corea
  • Wednesday, July 25, 7 p.m. – Miles Ahead, Miles Davis and Gil Evans

For more information visit www.esu.edu/jazzatesu or contact Vashlishan at 570-422-3828 or email mvashlisha@esu.edu.