Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Director, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

2/25/08
Story by Peggy Graham

Jazz Pianist Michael Pagan Plays at JCCC

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Jazz pianist Michael Pagán will play at noon Tuesday, March 25, in the Recital Hall of the Carlsen Center, Johnson County Community College, as part of the free Jazz Series featuring Kansas City musicians.

Pagán, assistant director of jazz studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Conservatory of Music, is much in demand as a jazz pianist. He has performed professionally for nearly 30 years with many jazz greats including Gary Burton, Slide Hampton, Robin Eubanks, Wallace Roney, Lew Soloff, Marvin Stamm, Lennie Niehaus, Frank Tiberi, Billy Hart, Milt Hinton and John Clayton. He has most recently performed with Kenny Wheeler, Ralph Peterson, Jiggs Whigham and Greg Abate, with whom he recorded.

Prior to UMKC, Pagán was on the jazz faculty at the University of Colorado, Boulder, where he served as interim director of jazz studies, and also served as director of jazz studies at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Pagán received his doctor of music degree from Northwestern University and his master of arts degree from Kent State University, both in composition.

Pagán has received numerous awards and commissions for his compositions and arrangements, including first prize, New Music for Young Ensembles composers competition, which included a Carnegie Hall premiere, and commissions from Michigan Music Teachers Association, the Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra, WLS-TV Channel 7, Chicago, and high schools and colleges throughout the country.

The spring 2008 jazz series concludes with the Kerry Strayer/Stan Kessler Group at noon April 1 in the Recital Hall. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The 50-minute concerts are cosponsored by the JCCC humanities and music departments, Community Services and the Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts. For more information, call 913-469-8500, ext. 3605.