The USM School of Music sends four USM Jazz Combos out to perform at One Longfellow Square on Monday, March 18 from 7-9 p.m. Tickets are $6 for the general public, $3 for students.

Gideon Forbes (sax), Mike Beling (piano), Elias Cottle (guitar), Kinnon Church (bass), and Matt Johnston (drums) will play a four-tune set with a mix of straight ahead jazz and more modern pieces by Steve Lacy and Gary Wittner.

Mike Lano (sax), Jon Downs (trombone), Ned Lee (guitar), Tom Brown (guitar), Tony Mangino (bass), and Rob Neeb (drums) will play music performed originally by Count Basie, Horace Silver and South African jazz musician McCoy Mrubata.

Coaching these combos is USM artist faculty Gary Wittner, a professional guitarist who has been teaching at USM since 1997. He has performed for over 3 decades worldwide on 5 continents, and was chosen three time to represent the USA - twice as a Kennedy Center Jazz Ambassador, and once as a Fulbright Specialist. He has released 5 CD's and published the book, "Thelonious Monk for Guitar."

Also performing will be the following two combos coached by Barry Saunders.

Mike Gilmore (clarinet), Tom Brown (guitar), Conor Linehan (guitar), Kinnon Church (bass), Nate Gowen (drums) and Robert Neeb (drums) form the first Saunders combo.

The second Saunders combo features Mike Gilmore (clarinet), Jon Downs (trombone), Dane Gronding (piano), Conor Linehan (guitar), Kinnon Church (bass) and Trevor Driscoll (drums).

Saxophonist Barry Saunders has played clubs, festivals and concerts throughout The United States, with a few dates in Europe and Asia, with such notable musicians and ensembles as Conte Condoli, Pete Christlieb, OK|OK, Michael McGinnis, Erik Deutsch, Clark Terry, Barry Manilow, Three Dog Night, Portland (Maine) Symphony Orchestra and the New Hampshire Music Festival Symphony Orchestra. Barryʼs work, with his own ensemble, has been featured on the award winning Maine Public Radio news program "Maine Things Considered." Most recently, he could be heard on "Spinning on Air" with David Garland from the studios of WNYC. He can also be heard on Erik Deutschʼs CD “Hush Money” (hammerandstring.com).