Xavier Jazz Ensemble to Perform in China New Orleans LA … The Xavier University of Louisiana Jazz Ensemble will travel to China Sept. 10-18 to perform at the inaugural Dajidian International Music Festival, Baoding, Hebei Province. Dr. Tim Turner, Chair of the Department of Music, will direct the ensemble; Shu Peng, Assistant Director of the Confucius Institute, will lead the overall trip. Members of the Jazz Ensemble include James Charles (piano teacher), Alijah Jett (trumpet), Ajene Johnson (guitar), Ronald Davis (electric bass), and Wayne Matthews (drums set). The musical selections include “All Blues” (Miles Davis-composer), “Epistrophy” (Thelonius Monk-composer), “Cameleon” (Herbie Hancock-composer), “Straight No Chaser” (Monk), “Blue Monk” (Monk), “Misty” (Earl Garner-composer), “Always There” (Ronnie Laws composer), and “Impressions” (John Coltrane). The Dajidian International Music Festival will be held in Dajidian, a historical city in Baoding. More than 30 world-renowned musicians from eight different countries are also scheduled to perform at the Festival. In honor of Turner’s music and education achievements, he will be appointed the “Dajidian International Music Festival Artistic Special Consultant.” Besides the Dajidian Festival, the Xavier Ensemble will also perform at Hebei University, where Turner will discuss possible teaching and research exchanges with his counterparts at Hebei University, including the possibility of distance co-teaching of Chinese and Jazz music. In addition, upon the invitation of Dr. Wang Fengming, President of Hebei University of Geosciences, the Xavier Ensemble will perform and interact with faculty and students there in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province. The trip facilitated by the Confucius Institute, and is funded by the Dajidian Festival. Xavier University Jazz Ensemble The Jazz Ensemble is a featured group at the annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, tours the U.S., other South American countries and hosts its own Jazz Festival each spring. The group performs various repertoires ranging from contemporary jazz ensemble literature to big band swing, be-bop, neo-bop, jazz-rock and popular music. Great emphasis is placed on providing an educational account of the historical development of Jazz that will serve to inspire audiences to appreciate and understand the contribution that Jazz has given the world of music.