Jazz Saxophone Star Playing with the Byron Center Jazz Orchestra

International Jazz Saxophonist Tim Warfield, Jr. joins the nationally recognized Byron Center Jazz Orchestra for COOL JAZZ on Friday, April 28th at 7:30 pm at the Van Singel Fine Arts Center as part of the 2016-2017 Chemical Bank Series.

Warfield’s first recording, A Cool Blue, was selected as one of the top ten recordings of the year in a 1995 New York Times critic’s poll, as was his 1998 recording Gentle Warrior (featuring Cyrus Chestnut, Tarus Mateen, Clarence Penn, Terell Stafford, and Nicholas Payton), proclaiming him possibly the most powerful tenor saxophonist of his generation.

Warfield has appeared on several GRAMMY-nominated recordings such as Stefon Harris' "The Grand Unification Theory," as well as "Dear Louis" and "Sonic Trance," both under the leadership of trumpeter and New Orleans native, Nicholas Payton.

On November 7, 2015, The Clef Club of Jazz and the Performing Arts, recognized Tim, as “Tenor saxophonist of the Year,” at their annual Clef Club Jazz Awards, in Philadelphia.

The Byron Center Jazz Orchestra, directed by Marc Townley, has competed at the Swing Central Jazz Festival in Savannah, Georgia every spring since 2014 and this year ranked third out of 12 high school bands from throughout the nation. This May will be the orchestra’s second time competing in New York at Essentially Ellington Jazz Competition and Festival at Lincoln Center in New York.

Reserved seats are $16.50 for adults and $11.50 for students. Reserve tickets in person at the Van Singel box office or by calling (616) 878-6800, Monday through Friday, 12 noon to 5 pm. Tickets are also available at www.vsfac.com.

The Van Singel Fine Arts Center is located at the east end of the Byron Center High School complex, at 8500 Burlingame SW (84th Street and Burlingame SW) in Byron Center, just 1.5 miles west of US-131. The Van Singel features free, easy parking and curbside handicap parking is available.