Brushing off a piece of framed music from the wall and calling in a favor from an old friend was all it took was to start preparing for Thursday’s Chris Grubb Memorial Scholarship Concert at 7:30 p.m. in Rice Auditorium.

For more than 20 years, the Baker University Jazz Ensemble has presented the memorial concert. The concert is in honor of Baker student and saxophone player Chris Grubb, who died in an automobile accident in the fall of 1985.  After his death, family and friends came together and gave memorial contributions for a scholarship to be given to an upper-level saxophone player.

No admission is being taken at the concert, but donations will be accepted to go toward the scholarship fund. The scholarship winner will be announced later in the semester.

“I had been a teacher a couple of years when the accident happened,” J.D. Parr, associate professor of music, said. “He was a really good saxophone player, and this concert is sort of a tribute to his brief career here.”

It is a tradition to try and bring a guest artist to the concert. This year, Parr invited well-known jazz composer Mike Steinel, professor of music at the University of North Texas. Parr and Steinel have been good friends since they met one summer while in high school.

“The University of North Texas is the powerhouse of jazz,” Parr said. “Mike is a fine trumpet player. He is nationally renowned and I have the privilege to call him friend.”

Steinel was commissioned by the Baker Jazz Ensemble in 1990 to write a piece entitled “Somba de los Gatos.” This piece has become one of his most well-known compositions, and a signed copy still hangs on Parr’s office wall. 

In addition to “Somba de los Gatos,” Steinel has arranged a number of other songs being performed at the concert.

A range of music from funk to Latin will also be represented. The Baker Jazz Combo will be featured as well.

“I am looking forward for the Latin style music,” junior Andrew Linenberger said. “This is definitely my favorite concert of the year.”  

Junior Bryce Lathrop was the recipient of the Chris Grubb scholarship last year. This will be Lathrop’s third time being a part of the annual memorial concert.

“I have most definitely heard of Mike Steinel,” Lathrop said. “I am excited to play with him and hear him. It is going to be a good show.”