Music for Missions Brings Jazz to Town

Or, anything else!” reports Jack Sartain, producer and artistic director of the long running and popular Music for Missions concert series at Lawrenceville Road United Methodist Church in Tucker. Save Sunday, June 26, at 7 pm for a musical experience you will not want to miss. “At long last, we have been able to book the fabulous young virtuoso musician Andrew Fazackerley for June 26 at 7:00 pm. “Faz” will be joined by the fabulous jazz vocalist Tommie Macon and backed up by internationally recognized  percussionist Emrah Kotan” he said.

Andrew Fazackerley is a keyboardist, pianist, composer, organist, arranger, producer, and bandleader. He loves entertain his audiences with all styles of music in the same concert– from Bach on the pipe organ to contemporary music on the synthesizer he is a marvel to hear. He has released several of his own recordings, including a solo piano album of jazz standards and original compositions entitled “Our Love Is Here To Stay.” His latest CD, “The Ballad Of Norman Forest,” features about 30 of Atlanta’s finest musicians. It includes more original jazz compositions by Andrew, several standards, and a special arrangement of George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody In Blue.”
Works by local and national artists produced by Andrew at Norman Forest Recording Studio also feature Andrew as keyboardist and/or recording engineer on a growing number of albums. Without a doubt, Andrew is one of the most sought after and busiest musicians.

Emrah Kotan received his Master's degree in Jazz Studies from Georgia State University.  While studying, Emrah, Jose Manuel Garcia and Matt Stallard formed the award-winning jazz trio, International Groove Conspiracy.  At the Atlanta Jazz Festival, their mesmerizing performance caught the attention of the legendary jazz pianist, Ahmad Jamal, who signed them under his management group.

Emrah is now recording his solo project comprised of original compositions and arrangements that range from soft, melodious ballads to flavorful brews of jazz fusion with a touch of world percussive spice. Emrah Kotan's self-titled debut album is due for release in Winter 2011.

As a music educator, Emrah serves as Director of the Jazz and World Percussion Ensembles at Agnes Scott College.  He also teaches privately and performs regularly for children with the educational world percussion trio, Ritmo Blu.

Music for Missions is a 12 year project of United Methodist Men and will present Andrew in the 189th concert. Although the concerts are free, generous donations from our audiences total more than $110,000 for charities and missions. For further information, contact the church at 770 939-3717. The church is located at 3142 Lawrenceville Highway in Tucker, 6/10ths of a mile outside 285.