Jazz saxophonist Chris Vadala—who has performed with such legends as Dizzy Gillespie, B.B. King, and Ray Charles—will give a free concert at Ithaca College on Wednesday, June 27. The performance will begin at 8:15 p.m. in the Hockett Family Recital Hall in the James J. Whalen Center for Music. Vadala will be collaborating with faculty guitarist Steve Brown and two local musicians—bassist Miles Brown and drummer Tom Killian.
Vadala’s performing career has been highlighted by a long tenure as standout woodwind artist with the internationally recognized Chuck Mangione Quartet, which has performed in venues in Asia, Europe, Australia, South America, and the United States. The quartet has numerous performing credits, including five gold and two platinum albums, two Grammies, an Emmy, and a Golden Globe Award.
Vadala has also performed and recorded with such luminaries as Chick Corea, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Sarah Vaughn and Herbie Hancock. He will appear on the upcoming “Capitol Fourth” concert on July 4 in Washington, D.C., which will be televised nationally on PBS.
Vadala is currently director of jazz studies and saxophone professor at the University of Maryland. His Ithaca College performance will take place in conjunction with a five-day workshop on saxophone performance and pedagogy hosted by the School of Music. Vadala and professor of music performance Steven Mauk will present.
For more information call (607) 274-3717.
https://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20070621085349900