Fourth of July festivities are scheduled locally

Published 12:00 am Thursday, June 30, 2011

Shown is the crowd from last year’s July 4th celebration in Andalusia. | File photo

The City of Andalusia’s annual Fourth of July event will feature fireworks, free watermelon, and jazz and patriotic music performed by Jazz Comes Home, the Troy University Jazz Quartet.

Jazz Comes Home keeps the traditions of jazz alive through the performance of classic jazz literature and the best in contemporary jazz composition. The group has performed widely for arts associations, jazz festivals and educational institutions.

The musicians, all Troy University faculty members, include Raymond Smith, professor of saxophone and director of jazz studies; Jim Bell, adjunct professor of jazz piano; James W. Smith, Jr., associate professor of music; and Eric Ward, assistant professor of music/audio engineer.

As a professional free-lance woodwind specialist, Raymond Smith has played with many of the top recording artist in the jazz, pop, county, and classical music fields, including Sammy Davis, Jr., Al Hirt, Lionel Hampton, Burt Bacharach, Julie Andrews, Ella Fitzgerald, Eddie Arnold, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Kenny Rogers, Gladys Knight, The Four Tops, The Temptations, the Platters, Bob Hope, Red Skelton, Steve Allen, and many others.

Bell has been a jazz performer for more than 50 years.

James Smith has performed with Frankie Valli, Mary Ann Mobley, Gary Collins, Bob Hope, and Robert Nagel’s Master Brass.

The event is set for 6 p.m. on Mon., July 4, on the Kiwanis Fairway. The musicians will perform from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., with a fireworks display by Pyrotecnico following. Drinks and concessions will be available for purchase.