The Count Basie Orchestra, directed by Frank Foster, will headline the 16th annual convention of the National Conference of Jazz Educators beginning Jan. 12.
The four-day run will include the world premiere of "The Count Basie Jazz History Suite," a 45-minute retrospective of classic charts from the Basie repertory orchestrated by Foster and featuring Basie alumni Joe Williams and Snooky Young.The conference lineup also includes the Michael Brecker Band, Red Rodney, Branford Marsalis, Charles McPherson, Rob McConnell, Rufus Reid, Jim McNeely, Lennie Niehaus and Harry Pickens.
A panel discussion on the making of the Clint Eastwood film "Bird" is in the works.