(October 1, 2009, New Orleans, La.) - Pianist Ellis Marsalis, founding chair of the University of New Orleans Jazz Studies program, will perform along with the UNO Jazz Orchestra (UNOJO) to kick off the 2009 UNO Jazz @ the Sandbar performance series on Wednesday, October 7 from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the UNO University Center Flambeau Room. 

Also scheduled to perform at the mid-week concerts this fall are:

• On October 14, Chris Adkins with the _EXT Generation Ensemble
• On October 21, steel guitarist Dave Easley with the ProCon Fusion and Now Hear This ensembles
• On October 28, guitarist Phil Degruy with the UNO Guitar ensembles
• On November 4, clarinetist Orange Kellin with the New Old Music and the Hot Club ensembles
• On November 11, saxophonist Wess Anderson with the _EXT Generation and the Young Hot Shot ensembles
• On November 18, vocalist Leah Chase with UNO Jazz Voices and Now Hear This Ensemble.

General admission to Jazz @ the Sandbar is $5 and proceeds benefit music scholarships. UNO students, faculty and staff are admitted free with a UNO ID card.

For more information, call (504) 280-6039 or (504) 835-5277.

The University of New Orleans (UNO), the urban research University of the State of Louisiana, provides essential support for the educational, economic, cultural and social well-being of the culturally rich and diverse New Orleans metropolitan area. It opened its doors in 1958 as part of the Louisiana State University System "to bring public-supported higher education to Louisiana's largest urban community." Today, UNO offers 43 undergraduate degree programs, 37 masters, and 11 doctoral programs. The 340-acre main campus sits on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain, offering easy access to all parts of the metro area. For more information, visit www.uno.edu.

Johanna M. Schindler  

Director of Communications and Publications

(504) 280-6939

Fax (504) 280-7061

jschindl@uno.edu