CARSON CITY, Nev. — Peter Epstein, a Nevada Arts Council performing arts fellow and saxophonist, will perform works from his new CD, “Polarities,” from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. April 12 at the Church Fine Arts building on the University of Nevada, Reno campus. The free show is happening during the UNR Reno Jazz Festival.
The Peter Epstein Quartet includes Chris Williams on trumpet, Sam Minaie on bass and Mark Ferber playing drums. Williams is a recent graduate of UNR’s jazz program and will be subbing for Ralph Alessi who plays the trumpet on “Polarities.” The album will be released on Songlines Recordings May 13 and will be available for purchase at the April 12 performance.
A Reno native, Epstein began his career in Portland, Ore., in 1984, apprenticing with the region’s top jazz artists. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the California Institute of the Arts in 1992, and lived in New York. He earned a Master of Music degree in saxophone performance from UNR in 2004. Epstein has appeared on more than 50 recordings and toured internationally with Ravi Coltrane; Medeski, Martin & Wood; and many others. A founding member of New York’s School for Improvisational Music, he teaches workshops at universities, conservatories and music festivals across the nation. An associate professor of jazz saxophone and director of jazz and improvisational music at UNR, Epstein received the 2013 Nevada Regents’ Award for Creative Activities.
The Nevada Arts Council created the Artist Fellowship Program in 1988 to encourage the pursuit of artistic excellence by providing financial support to Nevada artists. The 12-month fellowships provide artists with time, materials and living expenses, and may be awarded to artists at any stage of their career development. Since the program’s inception, NAC has recognized the work of 161 actors, dancers, choreographers, composers, filmmakers, musicians, photographers, playwrights, poets, sculptors, theater directors, visual artists, and writers. By acknowledging outstanding artistic accomplishment, the program promotes public awareness and appreciation of the role of the artist in society.
The Nevada Arts Council, a division of the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, is the agency charged with ensuring that state and national funds support cultural activity and encourage participation in the arts throughout Nevada. In addition to providing hundreds of grants to arts- and community-based organizations, schools, artists and local municipalities throughout the state, NAC coordinates a variety of statewide programs and activities such as the annual Poetry Out Loud recitation competition for high school- aged students, traveling exhibits, artist residencies, workshops and cultural assessments. For more information, please visit the NAC website at nac.nevadaculture.org.
