News        from ABAC

Michael D. Chason Director of Public Relations ABAC 30 -- 2802 Moore Highway Tifton, GA 31793-2601 Phone 229-391-5055 Fax 229-391-5056 mchason@abac.edu

IMMEDIATE MARCH 22, 2006

WATTERS BROTHERS JAZZ QUINTET FEATURED AT ABAC JAZZ FESTIVAL

TIFTON - The Watters Brothers Jazz Quintet will be featured in concert as part of the 27^th Annual ABAC Jazz Festival on April 13 at 7 p.m. in the Donaldson Dining Hall at Abraham Baldwin College.

Trumpeter Ken Watters and trombonist Harry Watters, who front the Watters Brothers Jazz Quintet, are Summit recording artists and Yamaha Performing Artists. Since they are trumpet and trombone playing siblings, Ken and Harry have an onstage rapport second to none. Their last three CDs for Summit Records

(Brothers, Brothers II, and Brothers III) climbed to the top 50 on the U.S. jazz charts where they remained for at least 11 weeks. They continually receive airplay across the U.S., Canada, Australia, Europe and parts of the Far East.

Harry Watters serves with the Army Blues Jazz Ensemble in Washington, DC. After graduation from the University of North Texas, he spent four years touring and recording with the Dukes of Dixieland. While working at night on Bourbon Street, he attended the University of New Orleans by day, serving as graduate assistant to Professor Ellis Marsalis. He has performed with Shirley Jones, Peter Nero, Kevin Mahogany, Wycliffe Gordon, Joe Piscopo, Maureen McGovern, Bill Watrous, Jiggs Whiggam, Tom “Bones Malone”, James Moody, and many more jazz greats.

He has also appeared as a featured soloist with the West Virginia Symphony, the Syracuse Symphony, the Baton Rouge Symphony, the Tulsa Pops, the Louisiana Philharmonic, the Janacek Philharmonic, the University of North Texas One O’Clock Lab Band, the Kishinev Festival Orchestra and the U.S. Army Orchestra.

Trumpeter Ken Watters received his formal education from Interlochen Arts Academy, University of North Texas, The Banff Centre and Manhattan School of Music. He has also studied privately with Wynton Marsalis, Joe Lovano, David Liebman, Jack Walrath and Kenny Wheeler. His first recording with the Ken Watters Quintet, titled Southern Exposure, remained on the Main Stream jazz charts for 10 weeks

He has performed, toured with, or recorded with Frank Sinatra, Marc Anthony, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Harry Connick, Jr., Eartha Kitt, The Fifth Dimension, Petula Clarke, Herbie Mann, The Platters, Marilyn McCoo, Phyllis Diller, and many other icons of the music world.

Ticket prices for the Watters Brothers concert are $10 for adults and $5 for students. ABAC students are admitted free with student I.D. Advance tickets can be purchased by calling 229-391-4945 or 229-391-4950 between the hours of 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday.

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