DETROIT, MI (March 17, 2006) – The Wayne State University Jazz Lab I Big Band, under the direction of Christopher Collins, will pay tribute to Stan Kenton at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 28. The concert will feature special guest, jazz drummer Jerry McKenzie, and will be held in the Schaver Music Recital Hall, located at 480 W. Hancock, Detroit. Tickets are $5 for students and $8 for adults and can be purchased at-the-door. For additional information call, (313) 577-1795 or visit www.music.wayne.edu.

Featured guest, Jerry McKenzie, chose repertoire of original arrangements from the Stan Kenton Orchestra book and has been rehearsing with the WSU Jazz Lab I Big Band since January. McKenzie is a well-known jazz drummer in the Detroit-area and worked with the Stan Kenton Orchestra for many years. While playing with the Kenton Orchestra, Jerry recorded numerous albums on Capital Records, including the Grammy Award winners “Kenton’s West Side Story” and “Adventures in Jazz”. He continues to keep the Kenton sound alive by performing at a number of tribute concerts in his honor. The March 28 performance follows recent tribute concerts in Columbus and Toledo, Ohio and performances in Egham Surrey, England.

In addition to his Stan Kenton Tribute performances, McKenzie has also performed with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Michele LeGrand, Jack Brokensha, Rosemary Clooney and Mel Torme. He has also performed with the Johnny Trudell Orchestra, the Emil Moro Big Band, the Brookside Jazz Ensemble, and the Jimmy Wilkins Big Band, among others. Currently he is playing with Matt Michaels and Dan Jordan as part of the Matt Michaels Trio, with whom he has recently recorded two new CDs. He continues to appear with Big Bands, such as the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra.

The Big Band’s March 28 performance is presented as part of the WSU Jazz Studies Division’s ongoing series featuring local jazz artists. The series promotes extended interaction between professional artists and WSU Jazz Studies students.