College of the Desert Announces ‘Jazz at the Pollock’

From College of the Desert:

PALM DESERT, CA—College of the Desert announces the first guest artist concert of the 2016-2017 “Jazz at the Pollock” season. The Ron Kobayashi Trio will take the stage on November 4, at 7 p.m. in the Pollock Theatre. The concert is free and open to the public with a suggested donation of $5 for students and $10 for the general public.

The Ron Kobayashi Trio consists of three uniquely talented musicians from the Southern California area. Each musician brings with him years of diverse musical experiences. Pianist and leader Ron Kobayashi has performed with Mel Torme, Margaret Whiting, Kenny Burrell, Peter White, Tom Scott and Peter Frampton. He was a featured performer on the “Johnny Yune” television show, the TVONE series “Life After” with actress Jackee', the 2002 Jerry Lewis Telethon and on the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather. In 1992, Ron performed for President Bill Clinton.

Bassist and composer Baba Elefante was voted one of the nation’s top bass players in a Bass Player Magazine poll. He also performed on the 1995 Universal movie “The Hunted,” as well as with jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove, saxophonist Justo Almario, rocker Frank Stallone and “Kansas” lead vocalist John Elefante.

Drummer Steve Dixon has done numerous recording sessions both as a drummer and percussionist. He has worked with “War” harmonica legend Lee Oskar, saxophonist Richie Cole, trombonist Bill Watrous, vocalist Tierney Sutton and Warner Brothers recording artists “The Untouchables.”

The Ron Kobayashi Trio has played numerous music festivals including the Playboy Jazz Festival in Pasadena, San Bernardino Music Festival, Orange County Art and Jazz Festival, Dana Point Jazz Festival, Yorba Linda Arts Festival, Mission Viejo Music Festival, the Yuma, Arizona Jazz Series and at the Colorado Belle in Laughlin, Nevada. The musicians have worked throughout California, in New York, Florida, Arizona and Nevada, sharing the stage with such notable artists as: David Benoit, Eddie Palmieri, Cirque Du Soleil, Strunz and Farah, and The Fabulous Thunderbirds. The Trio has been the house band for the Annual Hollywood Diversity Awards where such stars as Chris Rock, Vince Vaughn and George Lopez were honored.

Each season, the Jazz at the Pollock series presents faculty, student, and guest artist concerts that take advantage of the intimacy of the college’s Pollock Theatre and showcases the Jazz Studies program at College of the Desert.

Mark your calendars now for the next Jazz at the Pollock concert scheduled for December 8 featuring the College of the Desert Jazz Combos directed by Dr. Anthony Fesmire.

About College of the Desert’s Music Program:

The College of the Desert Music Department offers a comprehensive music major program leading to an AA degree with guaranteed transfer to the California State University system. Areas of concentration are offered in both traditional and jazz studies. Ensembles offered at College of the Desert include Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Jazz Combos, Chamber Singers, and Jazz Singers. In addition to the AA, COD offers certificates in Musical Theatre and Music Technology.

For more information about the college’s music program, contact COD Music Professor Anthony Fesmire, D.A. (instrumental) at afesmire@collegeofthedesert.edu, or COD Music Professor Darlene Romano, D.M.A. (vocal) at dromano@collegeofthedesert.edu.

About College of the Desert:

Established in 1958, College of the Desert (COD), located in Palm Desert, is an accredited community college serving eastern Riverside County, California. The College leads the region in providing quality, higher education, technical training and lifelong learning opportunities, in response to the dynamic needs of our diverse community. The College serves more than 14,000 credit students and 1,000 non-credit students each year and is the number one source of transfer students to California State University, San Bernardino Palm Desert Campus. For more information, visit here.

Click here to see this event on the Patch Calendar.

Image via College of the Desert