MARCH 19, 2024 | 7:30 PM | EASTVOLD AUDITORIUM - KAREN HILLE PHILLIPS CENTER, PLU
Thanks to a generous endowment established by PLU alumnus Dr. Richard Weathermon ’50, the Dick and Helen Weathermon Joyful Noise Endowment for jazz studies created an annual two-day artist-in-residence program. Each year, this endowment allows us to bring a renowned jazz artist to campus to perform with the University Jazz Ensemble and a select local high school jazz band, to lead rehearsals and public master classes, and participate in other educational and performance activities. Previous guest artists include Aubrey Logan, Jeff Coffin, Vincent Herring, and Ernie Watts, and Greg Gisbert.
This year we are excited to host a very special guest artist this year: two time GRAMMY Award winner Eric Marienthal.
After graduating high school in Southern California in 1976, Eric went on to study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass. There he studied with the legendary saxophone professor, Joe Viola. By the time he left Berklee, Eric had achieved the highest proficiency rating given by the school. In 1995, Eric was awarded the Berklee Distinguished Alumnus Award for outstanding achievements in contemporary music. He has since gone on to perform in over 75 different countries, and has played on hundreds of records, films, television shows, and commercial jingles. Eric has recorded 15 solo CDs including his latest Grammy® Award nominated CD entitled Double Dealin’ with legendary trumpeter Randy Brecker.
Eric started his professional career in 1980 with famed New Orleans trumpeter Al Hirt. After returning to Los Angeles Eric became a member of the famed Chick Corea Elektric Band. He recorded 6 CD’s with the band and won 2 GRAMMY Awards. Eric went on to join the Jeff Lorber Fusion. Among the CD’s Eric recorded with Jeff, 2 were nominated for GRAMMY Awards. Jeff Lorber was instrumental is producing many of Eric’s CD’s. Other artists Eric has performed with include Elton John, Barbara Streisand, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, Burt Bacharach, Aaron Neville, Johnny Mathis, Dave Grusin, Lee Ritenour, George Duke, David Benoit, The Rippingtons, The Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band, Patti Austin, Lou Rawls, David Lee Roth, The Yellowjackets, B.B. King, Ramsey Louis, Patti Labelle, Olivia Newton-John, and many others.
Among Eric’s 15 solo CDs, his latest is a collaboration with legendary trumpeter Randy Brecker entitled “Double Dealin’ on Shanachie Records. This album was nominated for a GRAMMY for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. Eight of the songs that Eric has recorded have made it to the top 10 of the National Contemporary Jazz Radio Charts and three have made it to #1. Eric was voted as being one of the year’s “Favorite Alto Sax Players” in Jazziz Magazine’s Reader’s Poll along with David Sanborn and Phil Woods.
Since 2015 Eric has maintained an online saxophone school with ArtistWorks. In Eric’s school there are over 200 video lessons, tracks, songs, exercises and more for every level of player from beginners to advanced players. Students can also take advantage of the Video Exchanges where they can submit a video of whatever they are working on and Eric posts a video response for the students to see.
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