The University of Iowa School of Music jazz faculty ensemble will perform original compositions at a free concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, in the Englert Theatre in downtown Iowa City.

The jazz faculty ensemble—John Rapson, Brent Sandy, Jim Dreier, and Steve Grismore—will be joined by guest artists Mark Urness (bass) and Paul Scea (reeds, flute), both of whom are UI alumni. Urness teaches at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis.; Scea is the director of jazz studies at the University of West Virginia.

Laranja, a band featuring current and past UI jazz students, will perform before the faculty ensemble.

The Dec. 6 performance is a prelude to the Jazz Combo Festival, which will be held Friday, Dec. 7, in Iowa City. Four high school combos will come to the university for workshops during the day, culminating with free Jazz After Five performances at 5 p.m. in The Mill in downtown Iowa City. Two university grad combos also will perform at The Mill.

The School of Music is part of the Division of Performing Arts in the UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. For accommodations at the concert contact the School of Music at 319-335-1603. For a UI arts calendar and details about upcoming events visit the new Arts Iowa website.