Hannibal musicians return home to perform July 9 concert at Finn’s Food and Spirits

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Jazz saxophonist Bennett Wood, pianist Andrew Ouellette and drummer Marty Morrison will return to their hometown to perform at 6 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.) Sunday, July 9, at Finn’s Food and Spirits, 214 N. Main. 

Joining the group will be bassist Bob DeBoo. The group will perform selections from Wood’s upcoming record “Gordian Knot” as well as many jazz standards.

Wood is a freelance musician, composer and clinician. He recently was named the director of jazz studies at Webster University. Wood previously served as interim director of education at Jazz St. Louis and held academic appointments at the University of Memphis, Mineral Area College, Texas State University, Texas Lutheran University and Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Wood earned a doctorate of musical arts from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. He holds bachelor of music and master of music degrees from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.

Ouellette is a pianist, composer and educator in Kansas City. He studied under world-renowned saxophonist and composer Bobby Watson at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory from 2008-2012, earning his bachelor of music in jazz performance. Ouellette earned his MBA from UMKC in 2016.

DeBoo is a versatile and in-demand performer on both the double and electric bass. Some of the projects he’s been involved with the last couple years are playing and touring with David Sanborn’s Acoustic Quartet, the St. Louis Symphony, leading his own quartet and more. He is highly active in education, having worked with Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Jazz for Young People program, and JazzSTL’s JazzU program.

Morrison, a jazz drummer and educator, is currently on the jazz studies faculty at Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo. He was exposed to music at a young age through his father, Hannibal jazz pianist Bill Morrison. His journey includes collaborations with countless jazz luminaries. He performs extensively in Kansas City and St. Louis and holds degrees from Southern Illinois University.

Tickets are $25 for the general public and $20 for HAC members. Students are free. Tickets can be bought and student RSVPs submitted by going online to hannibalartscouncil.eventbrite.com, calling 573-221-6545 or stopping by 105 S. Main from noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Hannibal Arts Council is sponsoring the performance in partnership with the Missouri Arts Council, Finn’s Food and Spirits and additional individual sponsors through an “Adopt a Musician” Program. 

For more information on the concert, contact the Hannibal Arts Council at 573-221-6545 or findit@hannibalarts.com.