NATCHITOCHES – The Annual NSU Sax Fest will be held at Northwestern State University on Saturday, Feb. 3 starting at 1 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. 

Guest artist Adam Larson will perform with the NSU Jazz Orchestra and NSU Jazz Combo in Magale Recital Hall at 1 p.m. Larson will hold master classes from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. At 7 p.m., Larson will play with the Forsyth Jazz Collective at Flying Heart Brewing & Pub at 108 Mill St. in Natchitoches. The public is invited to attend both concerts. Admission is free. 

Larson is an American saxophonist, composer and author. He began playing saxophone at the age of 11. Described by critic Howard Reich of The Chicago-Tribune as “a player for whom the word ‘prodigious’ was coined,” by Peter Hum of the Ottawa Citizen as “a saxophonist who brings Donny McCaslin and Mark Turner to mind,” and by Nate Chinen of The New York Times as “the sort of jazz musician who gets flagged early on as a promising talent and then hustles to meet every requirement for success,” Larson has garnered numerous awards that distinguish him as one of the most promising artists of his generation. Upon graduating from high school in 2008, Adam moved to New York City to pursue his BM and MM in jazz performance on full scholarship from The Manhattan School of Music, finishing his studies in 2014.  

Larson has released eight albums; three for Outside In, one for Ropeadope Records, two under the Inner Circle Music label and two produced independently. Larson’s record “With Love, From Chicago,” received a rare 4.5 Star rating from Downbeat Magazine and was featured in JazzTimes Magazine, among other national media outlets. The second installment in his recent “trio trilogy” project- “With Love, From Kansas City,” was featured in ThePitch (KC), and the final installment of the trilogy, “With Love, From New York,” featuring bassist Matt Clohesy and drummer Obed Calvaire, received a 4 Star rating from Downbeat.  

Larson keeps an active schedule with his own groups and as a sideman, having performed at several venues across the U.S. including The Green Mill, The Jazz Standard, Birdland, The 55 Bar, The Jazz Gallery, The Blue Note, The Village Vanguard, Smalls, Jazz at The Bistro, The Jazz Estate, The Jazz Showcase, Dazzle, Noce, The Jewell and several others. 

For more information contact Dr. Paul Forsyth at forsythp@nsula.edu or go to https://www.paulforsythmusic.com/nsu-saxfest