Renowned jazz trumpeter to perform with LT Jazz Bands

The Lyons Township High School Jazz Bands will perform with guest jazz trumpeter Pharez Whitted Wednesday, February 26, at 7:30pm, South Campus Performing Arts Center, 4900 S. Willow Springs Rd., Western Springs. Admission is free and open to the public.

Whitted is the jazz director for the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. He began his career in 1982 after earning his master’s degree at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. He recorded his first self-entitled album, Pharex Whitted in 1994 and continued recording solo albums ever since. Over his career, he has worked with the biggest names in jazz, including Slide Hampton, Ramsey Lewis, Lou Rawls, just to name a few. Whitted has performed throughout the US and overseas, including shows at the 1988 Presidential Inauguration, The Arsenio Hall Show, Billboard Music Awards, Carnegie Hall and the MoTown Music Showcase. He works with Jazz at Lincoln Center and Ravinia's Jazz Scholar program and has been director of jazz studies at Chicago State University.

The concert will feature the Jazz Bands from LT performing a variety of jazz music, from traditional jazz standards to contemporary and Latin jazz selections. Special guest Whitted, will perform with the LT Jazz Ensemble and the Jazz Band from LaGrange Highlands Middle School. Melanie Hardesty will direct and open the concert.