DJ Logic to Perform with Cal Poly Jazz Bands on May 22

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Turntablist DJ Logic, a veteran of performances with jazz luminaries such as Wayne Shorter and Medeski, Martin, and Wood, will scratch and sample with Cal Poly’s best jazz musicians in a concert at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 22, in the Performing Arts Center.

DJ Logic will use a standard phonograph record on a turntable as a musical instrument while Cal Poly’s University Jazz Band No.1 performs a variety of innovative hip hop and funk compositions for big band. DJ Logic is one of the few DJs to successfully combine hip hop with jazz.

“Jazz is one of music’s most creative idioms, borrowing from nearly any source to redefine itself, and DJ Logic has found yet another way to reinvigorate jazz,” said Paul Rinzler, director of the University Jazz Bands. “Turntablists play exactly the same musical role as, for instance, a conga player does in a jazz band. So if congas are acceptable in a jazz band, then it is only our preconceptions about what is a musical instrument that would question whether a turntablist can be a jazz musician.”

A second big band, as well as two jazz combos, will also perform a variety of hip-hop and funk selections.

Tickets are $12 and $15 for general admission, $10 and $13 for seniors and Jazz Federation members, and $6 and $10 for students. Prices are based on seating. Tickets can be purchased at the Performing Arts Ticket Office from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. To order by phone, call SLO-ARTS (756-2787).

The Jazz Night concert is sponsored by the Cal Poly Music Department, College of Liberal Arts and Instructionally Related Activities program. For more information, call the Music Department at 805-756-2406.

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