Jazz master Branford Marsalis will perform at Wentz Hall at North Central College on Friday March 1.

Tickets for the 8 p.m. show range from $50 to $60 and are now available.

A National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master, renowned Grammy Award-winning saxophonist and Tony Award-nominee Marsalis is one of the most revered and forward-thinking instrumentalists of his time. 

Leader of one of the finest jazz quartets today–the Branford Marsalis quartet–and a frequent soloist with classical ensembles, Marsalis recently recorded “Four MFs Playin’ Tunes” with his quartet. 

On this new album, the song takes center stage. The band members bring their considerable musical expertise to bear as they focus on each tune as an important musical entity unto itself and not merely a vehicle for showcasing individual talent. These recordings have added light and heat to the music of their time, and this performance will be no exception.

Faculty performer— Acclaimed pianist and North Central College jazz faculty member Chris White performs March 8 in the College’s Madden Theatre.

“An Evening with Jazz Pianist Chris White” begins at 8 p.m. Friday, March 8, in the College’s Madden Theatre at the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave. Tickets are $20/adults and $15/students and seniors; call the North Central College Box Office at 630-637-SHOW (7469) or visit northcentralcollege.edu/showtix.

White will be joined onstage by fellow members of North Central College’s jazz faculty, including bassist Jim Cox, drummer Jack Mouse and vocalist Janice Borla.

A native of Toronto, Canada, White has performed at such Chicago-area venues as The Jazz Showcase, Andy’s, House of Blues, Navy Pier, The Peninsula Hotel, The Drake Hotel and many more.

After obtaining a bachelor of arts in English from the University of Toronto, White decided to focus his studies entirely on music. He attended Indiana University’s prestigious Jacobs School of Music and pursued a master’s degree in jazz studies, graduating with a Pi Kappa Lambda award (National Music Honors Society). Gaining valuable experience in Indianapolis, he performed with The Bloomington Symphony Orchestra, David Baker, Jamey Aebersold and Oliver Nelson Jr.

White has studied piano with Luke Gillespie, Lynne Arriale, Joanne Brackeen, Barry Harris and Andy LaVerne and was invited to perform at the Steans Institute for Young Artists at Ravinia hosted by James Moody, Rufus Reid and David Baker. In 2010 he completed his doctoral of musical arts in jazz performance at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Currently White is an instructor of jazz piano and theory at Lake Forest College, North Park University and North Central College. He is also a combo and theory instructor at Midwest Young Artists in Highwood. He is a member of the Paul Marinaro Trio and his two CDs “Young at Heart” and “Tributaries” are available through his website, chriswhitepiano.com.