West Point celebrates African-American heritage with jazz, gospel and soul food

West Point - The United States Military Academy Band’s Jazz Knights will present a concert with guest drummer Dennis Mackrel and the USMA Cadet Gospel Choir on Sunday, Feb. 11, at 4:30 p.m. in Eisenhower Hall Ballroom. The Jazz Knights will feature Mackrel on a number of his original compositions including three commissioned by the Jazz Knights. Mackrel was the drummer for the Count Basie Orchestra from 1983-84, working with Count Basie himself and later his replacement, composer Thad Jones. Since leaving the Basie band, he has worked with well-known artists such as Maria Schneider, Joe Lovano and Nancy Wilson. He is the recipient of a National Endowment For The Arts Grant for Composition, and his compositions have been performed and recorded by the German WDR Radio Big Band and on two of pianist McCoy Tyner’s Grammy award-winning CD’s. The Cadet Gospel Choir, under the direction of Lt. Col. Archie Willmer, will perform a variety of contemporary worship songs arranged by members of the Jazz Knights and CW4 Douglas Hammond, the Officer-in-Charge of the Jazz Knights. A soul-food tasting will take place prior to the concert at 4 p.m. in the Eisenhower Hall Ballroom. Both events are part of a celebration of African-American Heritage Month and are free and open to the public. For concert information, cancellations and updates, call the Academy Band’s 24-hour hotline at 938-2617; or visit us on the internet at www.usma.edu/band.