NATHAN DAVIS TAKES UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH JAZZ SEMINAR AND CONCERT TO GHANA, AFRICA

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 6 -- Following the recent successful 30th annual University of Pittsburgh Jazz Seminar and Concert, Pitt Jazz Studies Director Nathan Davis is "taking the show on the road" to the University of Ghana for lectures, workshops, and a concert. The event will take place December 14 - 16.

Modeled after the long-standing and well-received Pitt event, the first Pitt Jazz Seminar and Concert at the University of Ghana will include performances by: Donald Byrd, trumpet; Melton Mustafa, trumpet; Nathan Davis, saxophones; George Cables, piano; Bob Magnusson, bass; Idris Muhammad, drums; and Komla Amoaku, African percussion.

Guest lecturers include: Willie Anku, chairman of the music department, University of Ghana; K. Nketia, founder of the International Center for African Music and Dance, University of Ghana; and Ursula Davis, professor of communications, Penn State University. The event has a significant local connection, in that both percussionist Amoaku and department chair Anku have degrees in ethnomusicology from the University of Pittsburgh.

"For years, Nketia has been trying to get me to do the same thing in Africa that I do at Pitt," said Davis. "With a recent Ford Foundation grant, we've been able to expand the Jazz Seminar into Africa, and plan to hold one in South Africa next year as well."

 The lectures will be open to students and the general public, and the week culminates with a concert the evening of Dec. 16. Event co-sponsors include the International Center for African Music and Dance at the University of Ghana and the National Theatre of Ghana.

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