Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Past Event
Event Date(s)
Tuesday, 4/14/2026, 7:00 pm - Tuesday, 4/14/2026, 9:30 pm
Event Location
Performing Arts Center
Event Format
In-Person
Intended Audience
Everyone
Mesa Community College Music Department Presents: Jazz/MPJE and EVJC Jazz Concert with Guest Artist Sal Lozano
April 14 at 7 pm at MCC Performing Arts Center
The MCC Jazz Band has a long history of continued success. Under the direction of MCC alum and instructor Paul Brewer, the MCC Jazz Ensemble continue to promote jazz at a high level throughout the Valley. Jazz Big Band Lovers! You Won't want to miss this one! At the MPJE Jazz Ensemble with Artistic Director and Piano Extraordinaire Nick Manson is made up of professional musicians and educators from around the valley.
Through its various performing ensembles, supported by guest artist clinics, online instruction, and additional educational opportunities, the Valley Jazz Cooperative offers music students a uniquely valuable experience. While the ensemble programs are a focal point for VJC instruction, the principal goal is to help each individual explore and develop their awesome potential as creative beings through the medium of jazz and the art of improvisation. VJC programs are offered free of charge to eligible, committed, passionate music students (grades 8-12, from the greater Phoenix area), following a successful placement audition.
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A Southern California native, Sal Lozano is one of today’s most sought-after saxophonists, known for his versatility across classical, jazz, commercial, and studio music.
Sal is a featured member of both the Tom Kubis Big Band and Gordon Goodwin’s Grammy Award-winning Big Phat Band. His extensive recording credits include collaborations with Paul McCartney, Natalie Cole, John Legend, Christina Aguilera, Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Lalo Schifrin, Brian McKnight, Michael Bublé, Keely Smith, Barbra Streisand, Joey DeFrancesco, and Maynard Ferguson.
His television work includes being a member of the Dancing with the Stars House Band and the Academy Awards Orchestra, along with appearances on the Grammys, Emmys, American Idol, America’s Got Talent, and many others. He performed at the Gala for the President at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., and has appeared as a soloist with the Pacific Symphony, San Diego Symphony, and the Los Angeles Opera.
Sal can be heard on a wide range of film soundtracks. He frequently holds the principal saxophone chair at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. His Broadway-style show credits include Newsies, Follies, Grey Gardens, The Drowsy Chaperone, Chicago, Caroline, or Change, and Edward Scissorhands.
Sal studied at California State University, Long Beach, studying with Greg Adams, Leo Potts, John Barcelona, Jim Walker, and Jim Kanter. He currently serves as Professor of Saxophone at the USC Thornton School of Music where he mentors the next generation of saxophonists and prior was a Professor of Saxophone at Cal State Univ. Long Beach. In addition, Sal is a Teaching Artist with Disney’s Imagination Campus, leading students through a 90-minute recording session that simulates the professional experience of performing music for film.
Sal is a featured member of both the Tom Kubis Big Band and Gordon Goodwin’s Grammy Award-winning Big Phat Band. His extensive recording credits include collaborations with Paul McCartney, Natalie Cole, John Legend, Christina Aguilera, Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Lalo Schifrin, Brian McKnight, Michael Bublé, Keely Smith, Barbra Streisand, Joey DeFrancesco, and Maynard Ferguson.
His television work includes being a member of the Dancing with the Stars House Band and the Academy Awards Orchestra, along with appearances on the Grammys, Emmys, American Idol, America’s Got Talent, and many others. He performed at the Gala for the President at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., and has appeared as a soloist with the Pacific Symphony, San Diego Symphony, and the Los Angeles Opera.
Sal can be heard on a wide range of film soundtracks. He frequently holds the principal saxophone chair at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. His Broadway-style show credits include Newsies, Follies, Grey Gardens, The Drowsy Chaperone, Chicago, Caroline, or Change, and Edward Scissorhands.
Sal studied at California State University, Long Beach, studying with Greg Adams, Leo Potts, John Barcelona, Jim Walker, and Jim Kanter. He currently serves as Professor of Saxophone at the USC Thornton School of Music where he mentors the next generation of saxophonists and prior was a Professor of Saxophone at Cal State Univ. Long Beach. In addition, Sal is a Teaching Artist with Disney’s Imagination Campus, leading students through a 90-minute recording session that simulates the professional experience of performing music for film.