MUSIC: WPU jazz studies gets new director

Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Kenny Garrett has been named the director of jazz studies at William Paterson University in Wayne. Garrett, who lives in North Jersey, will join the faculty on Sept. 1; his predecessors include trumpeter and composer/arranger Thad Jones and pianists James Williams and Mulgrew Miller, who died in May 2013.

Starting at 18 as a member of the Mercer Ellington Orchestra, Garrett has since played with such legends as Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie and Freddie Hubbard. He won a Grammy in 2005 for best instrumental jazz album for "Five Peace Band – Live" and was recently nominated for "Pushing the World Away." For information on Garrett's new role and his music: wpunj.edu/news or kennygarrett.com.

— Elyse Toribio