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October 1, 2009

Jazz Trio featuring ULM faculty member set to perform Oct. 7

The Dan Sumner Jazz Trio, featuring new faculty member Dan Sumner, will perform a concert at 8 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 7, in Beidenharn Hall on the campus of the University of Louisiana at Monroe.



Drummer and composer Louis Romanos and bassist John Huber will perform with Sumner.

Sumner, an assistant professor of music education at ULM, is a guitarist, composer and educator. He has performed throughout Asia, Europe and the United States as a guitarist specializing in Jazz and modern musical styles. He has been a featured performer at several top venues including the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., Jordan Hall in Boston, the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin and the Knitting Factory in New York City.

"We are delighted to have a performer of Professor Sumner's expertise on the Division of Music Faculty,” said Associate Dean of Visual and Performing Arts Matthew James.

“This unique concert will give the public a chance to hear the same kind of professional-sounding Jazz as heard in venues in New Orleans. What a perfect way to introduce VAPA's newest faculty member to the Monroe area,” he said.

James encouraged the public to take note of the special 8 p.m. starting time for this event, as most campus concerts normally begin at 7:30 p.m.

Sumner is also an accomplished classical guitarist. The McPike/Sumner classical guitar duo recently won first prize at the University of Texas/Brownsville Guitar Ensemble Festival and Competition in March of 2009.

He holds degrees from New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, and he anticipates earning his doctor of music education from Indiana University this December. Sumner has taught at Loyola University in New Orleans, Indiana University, and was the musical director of the prestigious Lusher Charter School in New Orleans for eight years before being relocated due to the effects of Hurricane Katrina.

His compositions have been performed internationally and he has released three critically acclaimed recordings with musical collaborator Louis Romanos, under the name, Permagrin, performing throughout the U.S. on all three coasts. The group has been featured at the Indy Jazz Fest, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and on NPR’s All Songs Considered.

Romanos has performed and recorded with a number of renowned musicians including Charles and Cyril Neville, Stanton Moore, Al Hirt, Brian Seeger of Moore and More, Dave Easley of Brian Blade’s Fellowship Band, Charlie Miller of Dr. John’s band, Jazz Legend Earl Turbinton, Mark Mullins of Harry Connick Jr.’s Band, Tricia Boutte of Galactic, Rich Vogel of Galactic, Skeric, Dave Anderson of the Louisiana Philharmonic, just to name a few. Romanos has also extensively toured Europe with New Orleans R&B singer, Marva Wright.

Huber is a critically acclaimed bassist who has worked with a who’s-who list of A-list performers including Burt Bacarach, David Baker, and the Nelson Riddle Orchestra. He brings a rich musicality and a deep concept of the bass to the Dan Sumner trio.

The Dan Sumner trio will be playing at New Orleans’ premier jazz club, Snug Harbor on Oct. 8.

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