Renowned jazz musicians to perform at NWC

Advance tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for students K-college. At the door, tickets will be $10 and $8. Tickets are available at Orange City banks and city hall, Dove Christian Bookstore, Don's Food Center, the Northwestern College music department, True Vine Christian Books in Sioux Center and Ray's Mid-Bell Music in Sioux City. Or phone the Orange City Arts Council, 712-707-4885. Group rates are available.

Saxophonist Justo Almario fuses Latin, Afro-Cuban, South American, funk and jazz genres. He began performing on television in his native Colombia at age 14, then studied at the Berklee School of Music before a stint as musical director for Mongo Santamaria. He has mastered soprano and tenor saxophones, clarinet and flute, has nine solo recordings, and was heard on the Oscar-winning film Sideways and in films by Andy Garcia and John Turturro. His Grammy Award recordings are too extensive to list.  

Bassist Abraham Laboriel, born in Mexico City, trained as a classical guitarist and then switched to bass guitar while studying at the Berklee School of Music. Henry Mancini encouraged him to move to L.A. to pursue a recording career. He has worked with artists as diverse as Madonna, Dolly Parton, Paul Simon and Keith Green. Laboriel has played on over 4,000 recordings and was described by Guitar Player magazine as "the most widely used session bassist of our time."

Bill Maxwell started playing drums professionally at age 12, and has recorded with Ray Charles, Billy Preston and T Bone Burnett. He worked as a music producer and musician with the Coen brothers and as a featured musician on Walk the Line. He is a member of the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

Greg Mathieson is one of the country's top keyboard session players. He has played jazz with Manhattan Transfer, pop with Barbra Streisand, rock with the members of Toto, R&B with Tina Turner, dance with Donna Summer, country with Faith Hill, soul with Martha & the Vandellas, gospel with Andrae Crouch, Latin with Julio Iglesias, and reggae with Jimmy Clift.