KASU's Blue Monday-Paragould presents Rob Alley Band 

Nov. 12, 2008 -- KASU 91.9 FM presents the Rob Alley Band at the next Blue Monday-Paragould, Monday, Nov. 17, from 7-9 p.m. at Blue Monday-Paragould's new location – the Red Goose Deli, 117 N. Pruett Street, downtown Paragould.

The Rob Alley Band consists of Rob Alley, adjunct professor of music at Arkansas State University, on trumpet, Corey Emerson on trombone, Grant Garland on piano and vocals, Derek Doyle on acoustic bass, and Mike Overall on drum set. They are arguably one of the most versatile bands in Arkansas. Grant Garland and Derek Doyle both perform at least 4 days a week in the Grant Garland Trio as well as maintaining busy freelance schedules. They are both graduates of Arkansas State University. Corey Emerson is also a graduate of ASU and is currently the director of bands in the Hoxie school district. Mike Overall, longtime percussionist par excellence, is the founder of the Jonesboro Jazz Society. Both Corey Emerson and Mike Overall are regular members of the Jazz Alliance, performing each Thursday night at the Edge Coffee House.

Rob Alley is a recipient of the 2007 Arkansas Arts Council Fellowship Grant for Composition. He has performed and/or recorded with Yo-Yo Ma, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Patti Austin, Byron Stripling, Marvin Stamm, Bill Watrous, Jon Faddis, Diane Schuure, the Temptations, the Four Tops, The O’Jays, Frankie Valli, Downright, the Matthew Devine Trio, the Chad Fisher Group, the New South Jazz Orchestra, the Tuscaloosa Horns, the Muscle Shoals Soul Review, and many others.

In addition to leading the Rob Alley Band, Rob founded Mingusphere, a tribute quartet dedicated to the music of Charles Mingus and Thelonious Monk. He also leads the Rob Alley Conspiracy, a group of varying sizes and instrumentations to explore his own compositions, and co-leads the improvisation collective Mean Smoker with keyboardist Matthew Devine and New York City-based drummer Jay Frederick. In addition, he leads groups of various sizes in northeast Arkansas and the Missouri Bootheel. Rob Alley also runs Rob Alley Productions.

Rather than focusing on the rhythm and blues style or the Delta blues, the band will explore the blues throughout the history of jazz. From Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, through Miles Davis and Lee Morgan, to current guitar legend John Scofield, the history of jazz encompasses an incredibly diverse range of styles, and the blues are represented in each. The band will explore all of these and more.

Admission to the Blue Monday-Paragould concert featuring the Rob Alley Band is free thanks to sponsors MOR Media, Inc.. and KASU, but seating is limited.

Blue Monday concerts are held on the second Monday of the month in Newport at the Depot Diner in downtown Newport and the third Monday of each month at, our new location, the Red Goose Deli in downtown Paragould.

KASU, 91.9 FM, is the 100,000 watt public broadcasting service of Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. For more information, contact KASU’s development director Todd Rutledge at trutledge@astate.edu or 972-2807.           

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