Cool and Current WJSU presents the "Battle of the Saxes," featuring renowned saxophonists, Jeanette Harris (California), Keith McKelley (Ohio) and Bernard "B.K." Jackson (Florida), Saturday, November 1, 2008, 7 p.m., at the Jackson State University Rose E. McCoy Auditorium.

Major support for the "Battle of the Saxes" comes from Comcast Cable providing people with the communications products and services that connect them to what's important in their lives. Comacst Cable avialble online at http://www.comcast.com/. Support is also provided by AT&T connecting you to your world, everywhere you live and work.  AT&T is available online at http://www.att.com/. 

Ticket Information:

Reserved seats are $20 and general admission tickets are also available for $10. You may purchase reserved seating tickets at WJSU, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Please call 601.979.2285 for assistance or questions. General admission tickets are available through any Ticketmaster location or online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/.

Battle of the Saxes Performers:

Jeanette Harris
Meet our headliner, sax machine Jeanette Harris, a graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. She showed an interest in music at an early age. By her fifth birthday she was playing the guitar. At age six she began taking piano lessons, and at age nine, she started playing the saxophone and never stopped.

Jeanette's hard work paid off, and she represented her high school as a featured saxophonist during the Monterey Jazz Festival.

Jeanette is one third  of The Jeanette Harris Band, which features her brother, Michael Harris, on percussions and Pat Olvera on bass. The group has played in a number of jazz festivals, including the The Hollywood Park Jazz Festival, The Inglewood Jazz Festival, The San Diego Street Festival, the Riverbend Jazz Festival, the China Town Jazz Festival and the "African Village Festival.  Jeanette has opened for and/or played with the following smooth jazz greats: The Rippingtons, Eric Marienthal, Kirk Whalum, Phil Perry, Everette Harp, Paul Jackson Jr., Najee and Michael Ward, to name a few.

Jeanette released her first CD, "Here and There" on the J&M record label. Her current release, "Reflections" is available online at http://www.jeanetteharrisband.com/.

Keith McKelley Project
We call him the blue-eyed jazz funk master. Though he's adept at every genre of music, this extraordinary musician keeps the jazz funky and the funk surreal. He's Cleveland, Ohio born saxophonist Keith McKelley.

At an early age, Keith McKelley presented such an amazing talent it was clear he was destined to become a world-class musician. His smooth jazz experience includes opening up for several renowned artists such as Wayman Tisdale, Marion Meadows, Special EFX, and performing with Bob James. He has toured the east coast and the south with blues artist E.C. Scott. Keith has also had the honor of sitting in with jazz recording artists Wynton Marsalis and Secu Bunch.

Having performed with a bevy of heavyweights, Keith was a poised front man for "The Keith McKelley Project: Live at Lock 3" CD released last summer. Sample the CD online at http://www.myspace.com/keithmckelley.

Bernard "B.K." Jackson
This 17-year old saxophone sensation is the winner of the 2008 Capital Jazz Fest Competition.  Bernard "B.K." Jackson  stimulates the soul by incorporating Gospel into his jazz performances.  B.K. sees his music as ministry. So reaching out and interacting with his audiences is what he does best.  He has stated"...I want god to use me as his instrument, to touch the lives of those who hear me."

He has opened concert shows for nationally renowned artists Kirk Whalum, Wayman Tisdale, Gerald Albright. Pieces of A Dream, Ken Navarro, Eric Darius, Walter Beasley, Paul Brown and the great blues legend, BB King. Though B.K. has not yet graduated from Howard W. Blake High School for the Performing Arts, he continues to be one of the most sought after musicians in the Florida Bay Area.

Since the age of 10, he has been electrifying audiences.  While on stage, his youthfulness explodes as he commands his audience with a maturity well beyond his years. Visit his Web site and see why he is considered one of the best young saxophonists of this day at http://www.myspace.com/bksaxman.