N e w s f r o m M e r c e d C o l l e g e (209) 381-6470 3600 M Street Merced, CA 95348-2898

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Robin Shepard May 3, 2012 209.381.6470

MERCED COLLEGE JAZZ ENSEMBLE TO PERFORM WITH POPULAR HORN PLAYER MIC GILLETTE

When Merced College’s Jazz MIC GILLETTE Ensemble takes the stage for its spring concert the group will be joined by one of the country’s better known horn players, Mic Gillette. The concert will be held in the Merced College Theater on Saturday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 general and $8 for students and seniors. Gillette, a native Californian from the East Bay area, is famous for playing trumpet and trombone in the popular bands Tower of MIC GILLETTE Power, Cold Blood, and the Sons of Champlin, among others. His father, Ray Gillette, was a trombonist with Harry James, Tommy Dorsey, Stan Kenton, and other big bands. Mic Gillette is a child prodigy, having picked up the trumpet and learning to read music by the time he was 4 years old. At the ripe old age of 15, he joined the Gotham City Crime Fighters, which later evolved into Tower of Power. As their reputation as a premier horn-driven band grew, Tower of Power toured with Heart, Rod Stewart, and the Rolling Stones. The band also opened for Santana and Credence Clearwater Revival. As a solo artist Gillette has appeared on hundreds of recordings as a session player. Gillette has also formed his own band, MGB (Mic Gillette Band), with his vocalist daughter Megan. He recently toured with the Doobie Brothers and Santana and has released a solo CD titled “Ear Candy.” He recently arranged and played on Sheryl Crow’s “Home for Christmas” CD, and he’s featured on an upcoming Doobie Brothers CD. On top of that, he’s also been touring again with Tower of Power. While visiting Merced College, Gillette will conduct a free jazz clinic at 3 p.m. The clinic is open to the public and will be held in Theater. Student participants are encouraged to bring their instruments. This will surely be a great performance and a concert you won’t want to miss. Tickets are available in the Merced College Bookstore, Theater Box Office, Peraino’s at the Bear Creek Galleria, and Passadori’s in Atwater. For more information or to reserve tickets, call the Merced College Theater Box Office at 209.384.6284.

JAZZ ENSEMBLE MAY 2012

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