Cool off with some hot jazz

One of the city’s coolest, yet little-known jazz concert series continues this summer—LSU’s Hot Summer Nights and Cool Jazz in the school of music’s recital hall.

A jazz combo plays to sold-out audiences who have long flocked to the campus to hear top faculty performers who host a series of nationally recognized recording artists and musicians.

The jazz studies program is headed up by Bill Grimes and he’s joined on stage this summer by pianist Willis Deloney and broad-smiling drummer Troy Davis who’s returned to Baton Rouge to raise his family after reaching the top echelons of jazz recording. In June they led four swinging concerts, including performances with Baton Rouge-born sax recording artist Wess “Warmdaddy” Anderson, guitarist Steve Masakowski of Astral Project, and vocalist Phillip Manuel.

The 2007 series concludes this month. Vocalist Camille DeVore and guitarist John Bishop are guests July 12, and Astral Project sax man Tony Dagradi returns to help close things out July 13. Tickets are $12 in advance; call 578- 3261 to order. Seating is limited to 250 for each performance.