Benny Green possesses the history of jazz at his fingertips. Combine mastery of keyboard technique with decades of real-world experience playing with no one less than the most celebrated artists of the last half century, and it’s no wonder Green has been hailed as perhaps the most exciting hard-swinging, hard-bop pianist to ever emerge from Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. Green will headline this year’s Winter Jazz Festival. Backing up Green will be the BYU-Idaho Sound Alliance jazz ensemble under the direction of Mark Watkins. More information about the Winter Jazz Fest, clinics, workshops and performances will be made available as the event draws near.

Tickets go on sale January 16. Floor and Red Seats: $6 for BYU-Idaho students, $12 for general public. Bleachers: $5 for BYU-Idaho students, $10 for general public. No children under four. Classroom dress.