Eastern’s Jazz Ensemble will have the chance to perform with a living legend in jazz music at its fall concert Friday.

The Jazz Ensemble will perform with Bobby Shew, a jazz trumpet player.

Shew will rehearse with the Eastern’s Jazz Ensemble and perform with the group at its concert on Friday.

Shew is a well-known Grammy-nominated and award-winning artist.

His 1980 album “Outstanding in His Field” was nominated for a Grammy and his album “Heavy Company” won Jazz Album of the Year in 1983.

The Jazz Festival, which took place during the spring semester, usually has a guest artist; however, the Jazz Ensemble does not always have a visiting musician for its fall concert.

Andrew Cheetham, an assistant professor of trumpet, has known world-famous musician Shew for a long time.

Cheetham’s father went to school with Shew and the two have kept in contact over the years.

Cheetham said he is happy to see Shew return to Eastern as a guest musician for Eastern’s Jazz Ensemble Concert.

“He’s a world famous jazz musician, eloquent speaker, laid back and easy to get along with,” Cheetham said.

Both Cheetham and Sam Fagaly, director of jazz studies, said they both have known Shew for years and they are anticipating a good show and a good visit from Shew.

While this will not be Shew’s first guest appearance at Eastern, he has not been to Eastern in several years.

Fagaly said that he feels fortunate to have a world-class guest artist coming to campus.

“He’s a great teacher and a great musician and it’s a good time to have him back,” Fagaly said.

Shew will not only be performing with the jazz ensemble in the concert on Friday, but he will also be participating in different events on campus and in the classroom today and Friday.  

“We are opening up one of our music classes,” Fagaly said.

Fagaly said he will hand the reins over to Shew during his History of Jazz class at 11 a.m. today in Room 0340 of the Doudna Fine Arts Center.

Additionally, Shew will also be leading the trumpet studio during their normal studio time at 2 p.m. today in the Doudna Fine Arts Center.

He will also be presenting a clinic on self-teaching versus recipient learning.

Cheetham said he believes this is Shew’s favorite part of visiting schools and that he lives for that interaction with students.

Cheetham said for visitors this event will be the most generally audience-friendly, with something for music and non-music majors alike.

“Tucked away in east central Illinois like we are, we don’t often get people of this caliber to come and play,” Cheetham said.

The concert on Friday night will not only feature Shew, but several student soloists.

“The goal is to learn and grow and improve over the semester,” Fagaly said, “Hopefully each is a little better than the last.”

This will be the fourth and final concert for the jazz ensemble this semester.

The Jazz Ensemble will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday in The Theatre of Doudna Fine Arts Center. Admission is $5.

Mel Boydston can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].