The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music presents an evening of music to celebrate NEA Jazz Master Kenny Burrell’s 85th birthday and to benefit the UCLA Jazz Studies program.
The concert program features new original works by Burrell, and a new work by composer Lalo Schifrin that will be performed by the Los Angeles Jazz Orchestra Unlimited and the UCLA Philharmonia under the direction of conductor Neal Stulberg. It will include Burrell’s heartfelt tribute to Billie Holiday, the great American jazz musician and singer-songwriter. The evening closes with “Love Suite” for full orchestra, choir, and strings with Burrell on guitar.
Burrell made his studio recording debut in 1951 as part of a combo session with Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane, Milt Jackson and Percy Heath. Burrell, the GRAMMY Salute to Jazz honoree, has released more than 100 records and performed and recorded with many of the great jazz musicians including Holiday, Oscar Peterson, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Ray Charles, Art Blakey, and Louis Armstrong.