According to Mike Pote, director of Jazz Ensemble 1, Rob Dixon, an Indianapolis-area saxophone player, will be the guest artist for the Jazz Expressions concert.

To prepare for the concert, Xavier Searle, trumpet player in Jazz Ensemble 1 and junior, said the ensembles have been focusing on music pieces by sections.

“We were given all of the songs we’re going to be playing a couple of weeks ago, and so we’ve really just been kind of breaking it down and working since then every morning,” Searle said.

Pote said for the Jazz Expressions concert on March 22 at 7 p.m. at CHS, Jazz Ensemble 1 will perform a variety of songs.

“There’s a bunch of jazz standards being played (for Jazz Expressions). Jazz 1 is doing ‘Cherokee,’ which is one of the most famous jazz heads or jazz melodies,” Pote said. “I’m not sure what the other groups are doing, but Jazz 1 is doing a pretty eclectic set: rock tunes, standards and then some big band stuff too.”

Overall, Searle said he hopes to gain more experience by working with the guest artist.

“I’m excited to work with Rob Dixon, the guest,” Searle said. “He’s a phenomenal local saxophone player, and I think we’re going to learn a lot from him.”