Jazz Group to Tour Western Colorado Schools to Promote Music Education

"Cool Jazz," consisting of four members of the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra, will tour elementary schools across Western Colorado this Spring, encouraging students to include music as part of their academic career.

"Cool Jazz," formed over a decade ago by percussionist Rob Labig, performs the Claude Bolling Suite for Flute and Piano, a fairly contemporary selection combining both Classical and Jazz. Students are asked to participate by sharing stories derived from the imagery of each movement.

Claude Bolling's Suite for Flute and Piano spent over 500 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Last December, Cool Jazz performed the suites live around the world via an internet streaming broadcast.

Cool Jazz consists of Shelly Warren on flute, Amy Markakis on piano, founding member Rob Labig on drums, and Waylon Jordan on bass.