On Thursday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m., Missouri Southern’s Jazz Collective will be performing with guitarist Robert Terry.

Directed by Dr. Phillip Wise, the Jazz Collective is one of the ensembles on campus. They will be performing several jazz standards with Terry. 

Standards are traditionally Broadway musical tunes ranging from the 1930s- to 50s, according to Wise. 

The Jazz Collective will be performing 7 standards with Terry, and these performances will feature the talents of Austin Kinard, Dillon Jones, Trevor Turner, and the vocals of Emma Miller, sophomore elementary education major.

Because Miller will be singing vocals, Wise said she helped with the selection process for the standards. 

The pieces selected that will be performed are “Like Someone in Love,” “I Could Write a Book,” “Georgia on my Mind,” “One Note Samba,” “Dream a Little Dream of Me,” “My Funny Valentine,” and “Here’s That Rainy Day.”

Additionally, JazzBones will be performing. A quartet formed this semester, JazzBones is composed of Wise and trombone majors Gus Bradbury, Dylan Gasche, and Doug Dicharry.  

The featured alum is Robert Terry, who majored in classical guitar performance and graduated in 2005. He will be playing with the Jazz Collective for some standards, as well as performing some solos. 

Terry lives in the Branson area with his wife Mallory, and their two children Madison and Dylan. 

Terry has worked as a professional guitarist in the Branson area since 2011. He has played a variety of music from country to rock and roll to classical and bluegrass. 

He has worked with artists like Jimmy Osmond, David Osmond and the Lennon Sisters.  

“It’s been fun to be a professional musician,” Terry said. 

Terry said he attributes many of his skills to his time at Missouri Southern from Dr. Wise and Joe Leiter.

“Dr. Wise is easily one of the very best teachers I’ve ever had,” Terry said. “It’s a thrill that he would ask me to come [perform with] his group. It’s a great honor.” 

Although Terry hasn’t gotten to meet the members of Jazz Collective or JazzBones, or hear them play, he does have the music, and is preparing music for the performance.  

He will perform some guitar solo, including the classic “When You Wish Upon a Star” by Walt Disney.

He will also be playing something might not be expected to be heard at a jazz concert: “Gentle on my Mind” by Glen Campbell. He is including this to add some variety to the concert. 

The concert is free and open to the public.