Jazz Society of Ghana Launch

On Saturday May 28, 2005 at the Jazz Optimist club in Accra there will be an outdoor concert featuring the visiting University of Maryland (UMES) Jazz Ensemble.

Also playing will be Master Percussionist Okyerema Asante and Maestro Mac Tontoh on trumpet with his Kete Warriors


The Jazz Society of Ghana, will be formally launched during the Jazz Optimist concert. It was formed in 2004 by a group of jazz enthusiasts dedicated to promoting and fostering the appreciation of jazz music in Ghana.


Through its activities, the society hopes to actively encourage young musicians to develop their talent for jazz music. The society intends to host visiting jazz groups and develop affiliations with other jazz associations worldwide. The visit by the UMES Jazz Ensemble is the first major event sponsored by the Society.


Membership of the Society is open to all who have a passion for jazz and would like to work with us to promote this great musical tradition.


UMES Jazz Ensemble In its present configuration, the UMES Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Dr. John R. Lamkin II, has been in existence since the spring of 1984.

During the late 1980s, this award-winning ensemble distinguished itself by winning several awards in the MusicFest National Jazz Ensemble Competition then co-sponsored by DownBeat Magazine. In the 1990s the ensemble was invited to play on the steps of the Capital Building in Washington DC.


It also was invited to perform for the Congressional Black Caucus, was a regular weekly entertainment feature for the Elderhostel Program in Ocean City, and toured New Orleans and New York City.


Last year, the UMES Jazz Ensemble, along with the UMES Concert Choir and UMES Wind Ensemble recorded its first ever CD titled, "Celebrating Music at UMES."


The band has had many distinguished legendary jazz musicians play with it over the years.


Some of those musicians include: New Orleans trumpeter Nicholas Payton; Saturday Night Live trombonist Steve Turre; jazz trumpet stylist Jimmy Owens; the legendary Bassist Extraordinaire Larry Ridley; the legendary tenor saxophonist Benny Golson; and the late soulful tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, to whom the University awarded an Honorary Doctorate.

The UMES Jazz Ensemble that is performing in Ghana is comprised of 16 musicians. They include 4 saxophones, 3 trombones, 3 trumpets, one flute player one piano player, 2 bass players, and 2 percussionists.


The majority of the students in the band are music education majors. Many of the former members of the UMES Jazz Ensemble have gone on to become highly successful music educators and sought after professional musicians, and have benefited from all the experiences being a member of the UMES band program has afforded them.


Jazz Society of Ghana: Tel: 233930 info@jazzghana.org www.jazzghana.org