Hamden, Conn. – Jazz singers Vickie Smith and Giacomo Gates will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 16 in the Clarice L. Buckman Theater at Quinnipiac University, as part of the 2005-2006 Sonny Costanzo Concert Series.

Gates draws his style from bebop-rooted masters, such as Jon Hendricks, Babs Gonzales, King Pleasure and, most of all, Eddie Jefferson. Gates’ CD, “Centerpiece,” released in June, reached No. 12 on the “Jazz Week” chart.

The performance is free, but tickets are required. Call 203-582-8937.

Sam Costanzo, professor of fine arts, languages and philosophy, and his brother, the late jazz trombonist Sonny Costanzo, began the jazz series in 1968 as a festival for college and high school jazz bands from the Northeast to compete. The series ended in 1980 and was revived in 1988 when Sonny Costanzo became Quinnipiac’s first artist-in-residence. Sonny Costanzo died in 1993, but the series remains a standard at Quinnipiac.

Directions:

From New York City and west, via I-95: Take I-95 to New Haven. Then take I-91 north to Exit 10 (Route 40). Follow Route 40 approximately 3 miles to its end (at Whitney Avenue). Turn right onto Whitney Avenue (Route 10) and proceed north for 1.4 miles. Turn right onto Mount Carmel Avenue and go 0.3 miles to campus.

From New York City and west, via the Wilbur Cross Parkway (Merritt Parkway): Take the Parkway (Rte. 15) to Exit 61. Turn right onto Whitney Ave. (Rte. 10) and proceed north three miles to Mount Carmel Ave. Turn right onto Mount Carmel Ave. and go 0.3 miles to campus.

From Hartford and east, via the Merritt Parkway: Take the Parkway (Rte. 15) to Exit 62. Turn right onto Whitney Ave. (Rte. 10) and proceed north three miles to Mount Carmel Ave. Turn right onto Mount Carmel Ave. and go 0.3 miles to campus.

From Northern New Jersey: Follow Route 287 over Tappan Zee Bridge to Exit 8. Follow Route 287 to Merritt Parkway (Exit 9N). Take the Parkway (Rte. 15) to Exit 61. Turn right onto Whitney Ave. (Rte. 10) and proceed north three miles to Mount Carmel Ave. Turn right onto Mount Carmel Ave. and go 0.3 miles to campus.

From Hartford, Boston, and Upper New England via I-91: Take I-91 south to Exit 10 (Route 40). Follow Route 40 approximately 3 miles to its end (at Whitney Avenue). Turn right onto Whitney Avenue (Route 10) and proceed north for 1.4 miles. Turn right onto Mount Carmel Avenue and go 0.3 miles to campus.

From western Connecticut and upper New York State, via I-84: Take I-84 to Exit 26. At end of exit, bear right on Route 70 toward Cheshire. Continue on Route 70 to Route 10. Turn right on Route 10 and go about 7 miles to Mt. Carmel Avenue. Turn left onto Mount Carmel Avenue and go 0.3 miles to campus.

 back to calendar