This evening program will feature Grammy nominated composer and arranger John LaBarbera. USF Jazz Ensemble I , under the direction of Professor Tom Brantley, will perform John's exciting 
compositions and arrangements.


John La Barbera started playing cornet when he was five years old. At the age of seven he was playing gigs with his parents and brothers Pat, and Joe in the La Barbera Family Band. After finding 
his love for composition and jazz, his works have been recorded and performed by Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Sammy Davis Jr., Mel Torme', Chaka Khan, Harry 
James, Bill Watrous, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Al Cohn, Bill Perkins, and Phil Woods just to name a few. As co-producer and arranger for The Glenn Miller Orchestra Christmas recordings (In The 
Christmas Mood I & II) John has received Gold & Platinum Records. John is also a co-founder of the world famous women's big band, DIVA.


John's GRAMMY® nominated Big Band CD, "On The Wild Side" (JC 1007) and his latest "Fantazm," 
(JC 1011) on the Jazz Compass label have received critical acclaim in every major jazz journal and are on the way to becoming jazz big band standards. In addition to his professional writing career, 
John is actively involved in the field of music education. Mr. La Barbera is the former Director of Jazz Ensembles at Cornell University and is now a Professor of Music at the University of Louisville where 
he has implemented courses in Jazz, Music Industry, and MIDI/Computer techniques in music.