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Pianist Skip Wilkins, assistant professor of music, will perform with his trio and a guest vocalist for the series Allentown Symphony Presents: Jazz at Symphony Hall 8 p.m. tonight.
Symphony Hall’s Rodale Community Room at 23 North 6th Street, Allentown, will host two sets by Wilkins; Joanna Pascale, vocals; Madison Rast, bass; and Gary Rissmiller, drums. Doors will open at 7 p.m. General admission is $20, with a variety of hot and cold hors d’oeuvres and cash bar available. Call (610) 432-6715 for tickets.
As assistant professor of music, Wilkins teaches courses in music theory and jazz. For more than 25 years, he has enjoyed performing with many other accomplished musicians, including saxophonists David Liebman, Stanley Turrentine, Bobby Watson, and Plas Johnson; vocalists Jill Allen and Mark Murphy; trumpeters Clark Terry and Conte Candoli; trombonist Al Grey; bassist Milt Hinton; and drummers Bob Moses, Joe Hunt, and Peter Erskine.
In 2001, Wilkins and Allen released Petty Theft on Cathexis Records. Featuring the Wilkins & Allen Quartet and Grammy-nominated saxophonist David Liebman, the CD received significant airplay and positive reviews nationwide, including a three-star review from Karl Stark in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Previously, Wilkins & Allen released Two Much Fun! on Eaglear Records. Some of their highlight performances together include New York’s Tavern on the Green and The Wichita Jazz Festival, and tours around the United States.
Previously, Wilkins taught at University of Northern Colorado, spending many of his eight years there in the nationally acclaimed Jazz Studies program. He earned a bachelor’s degree from College of the Holy Cross and a master’s degree from University of Northern Colorado. He also studied jazz composition and arrangement with Herb Pomeroy at Berklee College of Music in Boston, and is a former faculty member at Berklee.
Wilkins is a 2001 fellowship recipient from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, receiving an award for excellence in jazz composition. Many of the compositions for which he was recognized are included on Petty Theft.