Nashville Musicians at Emmanuel College

Saxophonist Jeffrey Kirk and pianist Russell Davis perform Tuesday, Feb. 9, at 10 a.m. in the Swails Center at Emmanuel College.

The free event is open to the public and sponsored by EC’s Cultural Awareness Program (CAP).

Kirk earned his BM at the University of Miami, his MME from Belmont University, and an Ed.D. from the University of Memphis. In addition to his work at Belmont University’s School of Music as Associate Dean of Performance Studies, Kirk has extensive recording experience with Dion, Firefall, Sea Level, Rachel Sweet, Niteflyte, Carl Perkins, Helen Cornelius, Kim Boyce, Brentwood Jazz Quartet, Kenny Rogers, and Eric Darken. His experience also includes TV jingles for Toyota, Ford, several local and national retail stores, WDCN-TV8’s Tennessee Crossroads theme; an internationally released Christmas album; and the Crook and Chase television theme. As a live performer he has toured with Pure Prairie League and Maynard Ferguson. Kirk has been the headline act at Big Orange Jazz Festival, Miami, Atlanta Jazz Festival, Summer Lights Festival, and Franklin Jazz Festival, among many others. His CD recording Clouds, on Jazzmania Records, was nominated for two Grammy Awards. He has been nominated for the Nashville Music Award and was selected as Middle Tennessee 1995 Jazz Musician of the Year. His current album project for 88 Grand Productions is a collaborative effort with keyboardist Russell Davis and is titled Come Thou Fount.

Davis, a native of Nashville, is a performer, arranger, composer and accomplished accompanist, working with a wide array of artists and styles. He has produced more than 15 recording projects for vocal and instrumental artists, including five solo projects, and is a featured artist on the Green Hill Music roster. He served as music director for the music theater program at Belmont University, where he was a vocal accompanist and coach. Davis currently serves as accompanist for Tennessee Repertory Theater, Nashville Children’s Theater, Harpeth Hall, University School, Pope John II and Oak Hill Schools and is music associate for First Baptist Church of Gallatin, and Temple Ohabai Shalom in Nashville. He is also a music director for the Celebrity and Norwegian Cruise lines. He has performed with artists such as Amy Grant, JoeDee Messina, Ronnie Milsap and Jars of Clay. Davis recently contributed music for the movie Four Christmases.

For more information, please visit www.ec.edu/cap or contact Dr. Emma Pettyjohn at (706) 245-2776.

Written by Communication Senior Lauren Peeples