The Rick Simerly Quartet will provide an evening of jazz during the After Hours Cabaret at the Reece in the Reece Museum on Thursday from 6-8 p.m.
Simerly, a trombonist and associate professor of music at Milligan College, has played in many bands including those of Tommy Dorsey, Woody Herman, The Temptations and The Four Tops.
Reece Museum promotional materials say Simerly is considered one of the most “exciting and creative” trombonists in today’s jazz field.
“It will be good. It will be wonderful,” said Margaret Carr, assistant director and registrar.
Carr said Simerly is a well-known musician in the region. She expects a large turnout for the show.
“I predict we’ll have standing-room-only for Rick Simerly,” she said.
The concert has been in planning for over a year.
Over 200 people are expected to come to the concert.
Carr said she had to schedule the quartet when there was no sculpture or three-dimensional works on display to avoid taking-up floor space.
The concert series was started three years ago.
Carr said it is a good way to get a new audience into the museum.
She said many working people find it impossible to get to the museum during the day.
The evening concerts provide those individuals with an opportunity to not only hear great music, in a room with good acoustics, but also to look at art.
Past cabarets have featured chamber music, jazz and bluegrass.
Carr said she would eventually like to have bands that “young people” would want to hear, but right now that is only a dream.
“I can’t see us having hip-hop just yet but maybe one of these days,” she said.
Admission is free, and the concert is open to the public.
Food and drink will be available for purchase beginning at 5:30 p.m. For more information, call 439-4392.

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