CURTIS JOHNSON GROUP, FEATUING YANA TYULKOVA AT STIFEL FINE ARTS CENTER

WHEELING, W.Va. (December 21, 2011)- -Oglebay Institute’s Jazz at the Stifel series continues with a dynamic concert performed by The Curtis Johnson Group, featuring Yana Tyulkova at 8 p.m. Saturday, January 14 at the Stifel Fine Arts Center in Wheeling.

The show features three jazz greats: legendary saxophonist Curtis Johnson, whose musical career includes performing with famed artists Ray Charles, Little Anthony, Aretha Franklin, Lou Rawles, Isaac Hayes, The Temptations, Patti LaBelle, and numerous other stars; famed Russian jazz vocalist and pianist Yana Tyulkova and award-winning jazz keyboardist Kevin Howard.

Johnson, a retired associate professor of music at West Virginia University, has been recorded on more than 80 CDs including jazz, blues, rock and rhythm and blues. Classically, he has performed on numerous North American Saxophone Conference programs, World Saxophone Congress programs and national Saxophone Symposium programs. He has performed as soloist with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra and worked as arranger and performer with the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra and substitute performer for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. He is the founding member of The Traverser Saxophone Quartet. This quartet gives numerous performances each year, sponsors the annual Traverser Saxophone Symposiums, and completed a tour of Central Europe in Spring 2005. Johnson currently works as a freelance performer and has recently completed many successful tours of Europe and performed at International Jazz Festivals in Russia in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Russian jazz vocalist Yana Tyulkova has an impressive resume. Her achievements include serving as Artistic Director of International Festival Jazz Russia, Nizhny Novgorod, being named Laureate of N. Novgorod State Competition of Young Composers, being voted “Best Vocalist of N. Novgorod State Pop-Rock-Blues Competition,” being named Laureate of International Jazz Vocal Competition in Paneveshis, Lithuania, winning International Jazz Vocal Competitions in Lithuania and Germany, being named a member of Who’s Who in Russia and the Encyclopedia of World Jazz Music and organizing the Jazz Vocal Studio of Yana Tyulkova.

Keyboardist Kevin Howard began his musical career more than 20 years ago. He is the founder of the award-winning contemporary jazz group “Serious Inquiry,” has three CDs to his credit, has headlined concerts throughout the tri-state region and served as musical director for one of Pittsburgh’s highly publicized events “Celebrating East Liberty Gallery of Stars.”

Don’t miss your chance to see these jazz greats perform an energetic and charismatic show at 8 p.m. Saturday, January 14 at the Stifel Fine Arts Center, 1330 National Road in Wheeling. Admission is $20. Call the Stifel Center at 304.242.7700 to purchase tickets. Refreshments are available for purchase at all shows, and parking is free and available just behind the center.

Upcoming Jazz at the Stifel shows include:

January 14, 2012 The Curtis Johnson Group, featuring Yana Tyulkova
February 11, 2012 Boilermaker Jazz Band
March 10, 2012 Maureen Budway

These programs are made possible through the generous support of the members of the Institute as well as with financial assistance from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the WV Commission on the Arts.