Dana saxophone and jazz event to feature Grammy Award-winner Ralph Lalama

March 11, 2022

Three-time Grammy Award-winner and YSU alumnus Ralph Lalama will be among the featured guests at the Dana School of Music’s Saxophone Day and Jazz Day Saturday, March 19 from 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM in YSU’s Bliss Hall.

A celebrated tenor saxophonist, Lalama is a mainstay in the world-renowned Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and a leading New York City jazz educator. He has released nine CDs and is on more than 60 recordings as a sideman.

High school jazz musicians on all instruments, saxophone students, music educators, and college students are among those invited to the free event. Participants must register in advance.

The event includes jazz and classical performances, improvisation clinics, combo coaching by Lalama, classical masterclasses by Misato Hanawa, performances by Big Blitz, a jam session, and a breakout session for jazz rhythm section led by professors of music Kent Engelhardt and Glenn Schaft.

Hanawa, who will present a masterclass, is a leading young classical saxophone artist who most recently performed at Carnegie Hall in her debut recital in the United States.

Big Blitz, a trio that performs dance and groove-based music, consists of YSU students Lucas Ciesielski on saxophone, Mason Ciesielski on saxophone and synth, and Nick Grabigel on drums.

For more information on the event, contact James Umble at jcumble@ysu.edu.