Northern Arizona University jazz ensembles will honor jazz legend and NAU educator Joel DiBartolo with a tribute concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, at Ardrey Memorial Auditorium.
DiBartolo died Sept. 27, 2011. He was director of NAU’s Jazz Studies and assistant professor of string bass for 16 years.
His long and distinguished jazz career includes 18 years performing with Doc Severinson and The Tonight Show Band, and he performed with musicians such as Frank Sinatra, Carmen McRae, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Williams and Sarah Vaughn. He joined the School of Music faculty at NAU in 1995.
Under the leadership of Ryan Haines, acting director of Jazz Studies, students have selected some of DiBartolo’s favorite pieces for the tribute concert, including jazz standards, as well as an original composition by one of the group’s members.
“Joel was such a huge source of inspiration to our past and present NAU music students,”Haines said. “It will be wonderful to pay tribute to him by performing some of the music he and his jazz students worked on together over the years.”
A reception in the Ardrey lobby will follow the performance.
The concert is free. Contributions can be made to the Joel DiBartolo Jazz Scholarship Fund (#1327), NAU Foundation, PO Box 22459, Flagstaff, AZ 86002-2459.
A Memorial Ceremony for a Brother of Kappa Kappa Psi will be held before the concert at 7 p.m. The ceremony is open to the public. For information, contact Kristi.Calvano@gmail.com.