First “Jazz at the Nest” concert to take place Thursday, Oct. 26

ASHLAND, Ohio – The Ashland University Jazz Orchestra will perform its first “Jazz at the Nest” concert of the 2023-24 season on Thursday, Oct. 26. The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place in the Hawkins-Conard Student Center’s Eagle’s Nest starting at 7:30 p.m.

The AUJO, under the direction of Scott Garlock, a professor of music, has been providing the AU campus and greater Ashland community with diverse jazz programming and internationally recognized jazz artists for more than 50 years. The ensemble consists of various saxophone, trombone, trumpet and rhythm instruments played by both music and non-music majors.

Thursday’s concert will include songs from the Great American Songbook, defined as the most important and influential American popular songs and jazz standards from the early 20th century that have stood the test of time. Among the selections to be played are “Almost Like Being in Love” by Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner, Duke Ellington’s “Oclupapa,” “I Mean You” by Thelonious Monk and Coleman Hawkins and traditional favorites like “Danny Boy” and “Yankee Doodle.”

Garlock noted that “the award-winning ensemble is preparing for a trip to Spain in March and several of the selections heard at this concert will be featured in front of Spanish audiences.”

Ashland University is a mid-sized, private university conveniently located a short distance from Akron, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. Ashland University (www.ashland.edu) values the individual student and offers a unique educational experience that combines the challenge of strong applied academic programs with a faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students.