KINGSTON, R.I.—March 27, 2008— Whether you like big bands or small, Swing, Latin, Afro-Cuban, or something other style of Jazz, the ensembles performing in the Spring Jazz Series at the University of Rhode Island are likely to have it covered. Four concerts will be held in the URI Fine Arts Center Concert Hall, 105 Upper College Road, Kingston, on Tuesday April 14, Friday April 17, Tuesday April 21, and Thursday April 23. The three weeknight concerts begin at 7:30 p.m., and the Friday concert begins at 8 p.m. Admission for each concert is $8 general audience, $2 students with ID.

Concert I on April 14 will feature the URI Soul Jazz Combo directed by Mark Berney, and the student combo directed by Eric Hofbauer. Hofbauer’s combo will perform the music of Joe Henderson’s album In N’ Out in its entirety. Henderson (1937-2001), a four-time Grammy winner, played with “everyone from Miles Davis to Blood, Sweat and Tears” during the 1960’s.

Concert II on Friday night the 17th will feature the B101 Big Band directed by Joe Parillo, with assistant director Dave Drapeau. The band will be playing Latin and Swing music, including music by jazz big band superstar Gordon Goodwin.

Concert III on April 21 will feature the Afro Cuban Combo directed by Eric Platz and the URI Jazz Standards Combo directed by Dave Zinno.

The final concert on April 23 will feature the C100 Big Band playing Swing, Latin and Funk, with an opening act by the URI Jazz Fusion Combo. Steve Johnson directs both groups.

The ensemble coaches are all members of the URI Jazz Program, directed by Grammy-winning composer/pianist Joe Parillo. Trumpeter Mark Berney, guitarist Eric Hofbauer, percussionist Eric Platz and bassist Dave Zinno are faculty, and Dave Drapeau and Steve Johnson are in the master’s degree graduate program.

Seating for all concerts is on a first-come basis. The box office opens 45 minutes before each concert. The concert hall is handicap accessible, and parking is available in the lot behind the Fine Arts Center. For more information, call the URI Music Department at 874-2431.