RADD Jazz Presents 'Universal Language VIII' at UW-River Falls

March 23, 2012--The UW-River Falls RADD Jazz Series presents "Universal Language VIII," an annual program that explores a synthesis of jazz, improvised music, and indigenous folk music from throughout the world, on Saturday, April 28, at 7:30 p.m. in the Abbott Concert Hall of the Kleinpell Fine Arts building.    

The concert features the UW-River Falls Jazz Ensemble, directed by David Milne, and features guest artist Babatunde Lea, master drummer/percussionist. The event is free and open to the public. For more information or accommodations, call 715-425-4444.    

Babatunde Lea's vast experience of more than 50 years as a master percussionist, as well as the spiritual depth and resonance he brings to everything he does, has made him one of the most esteemed musicians of the past half century.  Babatunde has performed and recorded with a wide range of artists, including legends McCoy Tyner, Pharaoh Sanders, Stan Getz, Richie Cole, Van Morrison, and Micky Hart.  As a leader, Babatunde has recorded 6 CD's, including his most recent, Umbo Weti, for Motema Records, featuring Ernie Watts (saxophone), Patrice Rushen, (piano), ,Gary Brown (bass), and Dwight Trible (voice).  Babatunde serves as Program/Artistic Director, for The Educultural Foundation, a California 501(c)3 educational non-profit organization, dedicated to facilitating critical thinking about social and cultural issues through music, the visual and performing arts, narrative and dialogue.  Babatunde has served as a performer, instructor, and artist-in-residence in a wide range of educational settings, including Gettysburg College, Santa Rosa Community College, Sonoma State University, California State University, University of California-Berkeley, and the Healdsburg Jazz Festival.    

 For further information, visit http://www.babatundelea.com/.