Music Under the Stars to feature trombonist Steve Wiest

West Point — The United States Military Academy Band Jazz Knights will continue the Music Under the Stars concert series at Trophy Point Amphitheatre at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 26 with special guest trombonist, Steve Wiest. Wiest was recently hired to teach composition and arranging at the University of North Texas and will be showcasing a number of original compositions and arrangements. Wiest is in great demand as a featured soloist, composer/arranger and clinician. He has performed extensively in the United States, South America, Australia, Japan and Europe. Wiest’s new solo album, entitled “Excalibur: The Steve Wiest Big Band,” was released in August of last year by Arabesque Jazz to wide critical acclaim. Wiest completed a master’s degree in jazz studies from the University of North Texas, where he was the lead trombonist and one of the featured arrangers for the famed One O’Clock Lab Band. From 1988-1990, Wiest was the assistant director of jazz studies at the University of Texas at Arlington, before taking over as director of jazz studies and trombone at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He was recently appointed assistant professor of jazz at the University of North Texas and will be teaching jazz composition and jazz trombone this fall semester. For concert information, cancellations and updates, call the Academy Band’s 24-hour hotline at 938-2617 or log on to www.usma.edu/band.