Grammy nominated jazz band to headline two-day TCC Jazz Festival

The six-time Grammy nominated One O’Clock Lab Band is coming to Tulsa. The jazz band has traveled the world and performed by Presidential invitation at the White House. The jazz band has also been joined on stage by such greats as Duke Ellington and Stan Getz. One O’Clock Lab Band consists of students from the University of North Texas and Steve Wiest, Grammy-nominated composer and arranger, is the band’s director.

These talented musicians will headline the 2013 Tulsa Community College Jazz Festival on March 27 and 28. “I am so excited to bring this jazz band to Tulsa because this is a tremendous jazz educational experience,” said Steve Vento, director of bands at Tulsa Community College. “For the $10 or $15 ticket, you can’t find a better or more entertaining show from a world-class group.”

The TCC Jazz Festival is in its fifth year and features 26 high school jazz bands from Oklahoma, Texas and Missouri. The festival concludes with the One O’Clock Lab Band on the evening of March 28. “It’s the largest jazz festival in the state of Oklahoma,” Vento said. He explained the two-day event highlights the performances of young musicians and helps increase awareness about TCC’s Performing Arts Department. “These high school students come from a three-state area for the festival and learn about the music education opportunities for music majors at TCC,” Vento said.

He added that TCC has tripled the size of its band program in number of students and class offerings in the seven years since he joined TCC’s faculty. “The more the community is exposed to our program, the more our festival and the enrollment in our music education courses grows,” Vento said. He also started the TCC Jazz Band.

The TCC Jazz Festival runs March 27 & 28 with free student performances during the day at the VanTrease Performing Arts Center for Education at the TCC Southeast Campus located at 81st Street and Highway 169. Tickets are available for the One O’Clock Lab Band performance 7 p.m., Thursday, March 28. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students. Please call (918) 595-7777 for more information or buy your tickets online at www.myticketoffice.com.