Hamilton College: 'Life Lessons – Music of Michael Woods' Sept. 13, Clinton, New York

[Prof. Michael Woods (Photo: John Berr/The Post-Standard, Syracuse, NY)]

Jeffrey James Arts Consulting Release:

“Hamilton College Music Department will present Life Lessons, a concert featuring new jazz and small ensemble compositions by composer/bassist 'Doctuh' Michael Woods on Tuesday, September 13 – 8 PM at the Fillius Events Barn on the Hamilton campus, 198 College Hill Road in Clinton, New York. Featured musicians include bassist Michael Woods, trumpeter Jeff Stockham, guitarist Tom Bronzetti, pianist Tom Witkowski, drummer Rick Compton and special guest saxophonist Javon Jackson.

“This concert is free and open to the public. For more information, please call the Hamilton College box office at 315-859-4331 or visit the school online at http://www.hamilton.edu/.

“Professor of Music 'Doctuh' Michael Woods is the Director of Jazz Studies at Hamilton College and teaches courses in jazz history, jazz arranging and jazz improvisation. He also directs the College's Jazz Ensemble. Born in Akron, Ohio in 1952, he grew up listening to Black gospel music and rhythm and blues.

“Woods studied music formally at Akron University where he finished with a B.M. degree in composition. He went on to obtain two masters degrees from the Indiana University. Woods received his doctorate degree in music composition at University of Oklahoma in 1991. Woods also studied jazz arranging and film scoring at Berklee College of Music in Boston and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Arts Administration.

“As a composer, Woods was awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. He has written over 500 pieces in all styles. His compositions have been performed by the Albany Symphony, the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, the Little Rock Symphony, the Tulsa Philharmonic, the Lafayette Symphony (Indiana), the Pro Musica Orchestra (Columbus, Indiana), the Central New York Jazz Orchestra, and the Salt City Jazz Collective.”