NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

11/11/2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES- Trumpeter, arranger and composer Graham Breedlove will perform with the NSU Jazz Orchestra Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public.

Breedlove, a former resident of Lafayette, is trumpet soloist with Army Blues, the jazz ensemble of the U.S. Army. He has served as special bugler at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery, and participated in official ceremonies at the White House, the Pentagon, and the State Department.

The University Jazz Ensemble will perform "Hey Burner" by Sammy Nestico, "Cute" by Neil Hefti and Craig Biondi's "Otra Vez."

The University Jazz Orchestra will present "The Blues Machine" by Sammy Nestico, Tuxedo Junction" arranged by Walt Stuart, "Naima" by John Coltrane and arranged by M. Mendelson with Matt Hooker on soprano and Gordon Goodwin's "I Remember."

Breedlove will present two of his compositions, "Inner Beauty" and "Festival Time in The Ville." He will also perform "Maiden Voyage" by Herbie Hancock with arrangement by Matt Neiss, "Manteca" by Dizzy Gillespie and "I Thought About You" by Johnny Mercer and J.V. Huesen and arranged by Neiss.

Earlier this year, Summit Records released the first CD of the Graham Breedlove Sextet, "Coming Home," featuring compositions exclusively by Breedlove, including "Grant Street," named for a Lafayette dance hall. He has also been featured on two CDs by Army Blues, "25th Anniversary Concert" and "Things Ain't What They Used to Be;" "Here We Go Again" with the Glenn Miller Orchestra; "A Stan Kenton Christmas" with The Capitol Bones Big Band and numerous recordings for the Hal Leonard and Kendor publishing houses.

Breedlove has performed in more than 20 countries, with such artists as Wynton Marsalis, Ray Charles, Tito Puente, Arturo Sandoval, Conrad Herwig, the National Symphony Orchestra and The Saturday Night Live Band. He has toured with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, the Les Elgart Orchestra, the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra and the Sammy Kaye Orchestra and has performed as a soloist on National Public Radio's "JazzSet with Branford Marsalis." As a trumpeter, he cites as influences Clifford Brown, John Coltrane, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, and Woody Shaw. As a composer and arranger, he acknowledges the influence of Herbie Hancock, Tom Harrell, Wayne Shorter, and "a lifetime of growing up in Louisiana."

At age 12, he first studied trumpet and began playing professionally at fifteen. He frequently made trips to Natchitoches and Alexandria. He is the son of Bobby Breedlove of Natchitoches and Dianne Dillin, formerly of Alexandria. Breedlove is the grandson of the late William A. "Willie" and Glennie Graham Breedlove of Natchitoches, and of the late Beatrice and Virgil Irving of Alexandria.

It might be said music was always truly "in his blood." Breedlove's father was a drummer, and played in some of the very first rock and roll bands in central Louisiana. One band in particular went on to be the first to record what is now known as rockabilly in Louisiana.

After receiving his Bachelor of Music degree from Louisiana State University, Breedlove went on to receive a Master of Music degree and Performer's Certificate from Indiana University. He was awarded first prize in the International Trumpet Guild Jazz Solo Competition, and has studied with international masters David Baker, Alvin Batiste, Stephen Burns, and Byron Stripling. He has presented master classes and clinics at high schools, colleges, and universities across the United States, and serves on the National Advisory Board of the Big Time Jazz Orchestra, a non-profit organization in Duluth, Minn. In addition, he is on the faculty of Towson University in Baltimore, and serves each summer on the faculty of the Brevard College Jazz Workshop.

A reception will follow the concert sponsored by Breedlove's family and Phi Mu Alpha.

He will also present a master class on Nov. 18.

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