'Stretch' Jazz Trio to Perform at Westminster April 20

'Stretch' Jazz Trio will perform at Westminster College Thursday, April 20, at 7:30 p.m. in the Berlin Lounge located in the McKelvey Campus Center.

The trio includes: Jim Flowers, an adjunct music instructor at Westminster, on reeds; James (JP) Scanga, a freshman music education major, on bass; and Steve Marks, a private music teacher from Hermitage, on the drums.

The program will include a variety of jazz compositions by Joe Henderson, John Coltrane, Thelonius Monk, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and others.  The group will also premier several small works written specifically for this performance by Scanga.

"The mission of 'Stretch' is to push the development of our modern conception of jazz as far as possible," Scanga said.  "Breaking a rudimentary tradition of combo playing without a chordal instrument such as a piano or guitar, 'Stretch' is thus a vehicle with musical room to breathe.  Improvisation and spontaneity are two cornerstones of this trio."

Scanga is a son of James and Kimberly Scanga, Sharpsville, and a graduate of Kennedy Catholic High School.

This event is free and open to the public.  Contact the Westminster College Department of Music at (724) 946-7270 for more information.

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