For the first time in years, members of the jazz faculty at the School of Creative Arts are performing together in concert. “Jazz Connections” is set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Capitol Theatre.

The concert will feature Detroit-based vocalist Shahida Nurullah; pianist, composer, and arranger Michael Karloff; jazz bassist Michael Palazzolo; trumpeter, band leader, and alum Robert Fazecash; saxophonist Jeffrey Price; Toronto-based guitarist Miles Finlayson; and educator and alumna Vanessa Harnish on drums.

“Music connects the world and brings people together,” says Nurullah.

These professional musicians have performed on international stages, with orchestras, and hallowed jazz clubs. They have recorded and performed with jazz greats in the U.S. and locally and are educators making an impact on students.

“Jazz music has been called ‘America’s cultural gift to the world’,” Karloff says. “Born around the turn of the 19th century in New Orleans, jazz originated as a fusion of the blues, ragtime, African American slave songs, early gospel music, and Latin and Caribbean rhythms. For over a century, jazz has never stopped fusing new musical styles into its fold.”

The ensemble members each made suggestions for the program, which Karloff and Nurullah pared down to fit a 90-minute performance with no intermission. It will feature favourites from Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Wayne Shorter, Charles Mingus, Kenny Garrett, Burt Bacharach, and more.

Find details and brief musician bios on the event website.

The Capitol Theatre is located at 121 University Ave. West. Tickets are $25 with a student rate of $10, available on the Capitol Theatre website or by calling the box office at 519-973-1238, ext. 2.

—Susan McKee