Carey Smith and Friends will perform Sunday at the Church of the Mediator Parish Hall.

    The final concert of the St. Paul’s Music Series’ 2014-15 season will feature Carey Smith and Friends.

    The Thursday concert will be an evening performance, beginning at 5:15 p.m. at St. Paul’s Espicopal Church, 1116 23rd Ave.

    “We will have libations and nibbles,” said Joanne Entrekin, a spokesperson for the concert series. “Admission is free, and the public is invited.”

    The 2015 version of Carey Smith and Friends features Smith on piano and as composer. He is finishing his 35th year at Meridian Community College as director of bands and music instructor. Smith has worked and performed with countless name performers and clinicians in the jazz idiom during his career. As well as his duties at the college he has been orchestra conductor for the Meridian Little Theater since 1985.

    A CD of his original music was released with the Meridian Symphony Orchestra in 2004. His trio is currently working on a jazz CD of all original material for release this year. His “2nd Suite for Jazz Quartet and Orchestra” had its world premiere in Albany, Ga. In 2010, Smith was invited by the International Conductors Guild to have the “2nd Suite” recognized as a new composition of merit in Copenhagen, Denmark. While there, he was honored to be part of the conductor and composers group given an audience with Queen Margrethe II.

    The 2009-10 season of the MSO was based around the four movements of his “Elements” symphony, with the movements being the basis for each concert; Air, Water, Fire and Earth. The entire work was premiered in February of 2011 for the symphonies 50th anniversary with Itzak Perlman as featured soloist on that concert. The Sesquicentennial Celebration of Meridian gave him a commission that was premiered on the first concert in September 2010, “Meridian-150”. Smith just completed a two year project his “Third Suite for Jazz Sextet and Orchestra” in five movements with a vocalist performing three of the movements. He is also looking for an ensemble to perform it soon, and hopes to write new music every day with retirement coming the end of May.

    Scott Kratzer has played drums for the group since the mid-1980s. Originally from Dempolis, Ala., Kratzer is band director at the highly successful Southeast Lauderdale High School Band Program.

     Recognized as one of the busiest jazz drummers in Southeastern Mississippi, Kratzer’s solid swing groove and uncanny ear makes him the first-call drummer for most area jazz outings. An accomplished percussionist in both jazz and symphonic genres, Scott has worked with world-class players at marquee venues all over the U.S., including Carnegie Hall, where he shared the bill with the Count Basie Orchestra.

    In his 30-plus years of playing, Kratzer has performed with such jazz greats as Gary Foster,  Steve Rudolph, Bobby Shew, Marvin Stamm, Chris Vadala, Carl Fontana, Fred Hirsch, Butch Miles, Hal Galper, Birch Johnson, J.B. Scott and Lisa Kelly, Bill Prince, Kathy Kosins and Bill Evans (saxophone). He has also studied drum set with Joe Morello, Butch Miles, Alan Dawson, Michael Derosier and Danny Gottlieb. Kratzer has been featured soloist with both the Albany Symphony and the Meridian Symphony Orchestra, playing both Suites for Jazz group and Orchestra compositions by Smith.

    Steve Moffett, on saxophone, has freelanced in jazz, commercial, theatre, and symphonic music for over 20 years on saxophone, flutes and clarinets. Over the years, Moffett has shared the stage with such greats as Aretha Franklin, Arturo Sandoval, the Four Tops, the Dorsey Orchestra’s and the Savannah Symphony, to name a few. He has played extensively in theatre orchestras and at numerous weddings and receptions.

    Moffett studied jazz with master saxophonist Bunky Green at the University of North Florida. Steve recently finished his Master of Woodwind Pedagogy at the University of Southern Mississippi. He is currently teaching woodwinds and music appreciation at Pearl River Community College.

    Lee Kornegay, trumpet, is originally from Jackson, where he graduated from Wingfield High School. Leland earned a bachelor of music education degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, and later attended the University of North Texas, in Denton, Texas, where he received a master of music education degree, while engaged as a graduate assistant of Jazz Studies. In 2003, Kornegay received a doctor of musical arts degree in Trumpet Performance & Pedagogy from the University of Southern Mississippi.

    Kornegay’s musical career spans a period of over 25 years. As a professional musician, he has performed in various show business meccas, such as, Reno/Tahoe, Nev., Atlantic City, N.J., Orlando, Fla., and Branson, Mo. Kornegay has toured both nationally and internationally. His horn can be heard on the platinum recordings, Mr. Big Stuff, and Paul Simon’s, Rhymin’ With Simon album. He has performed with a variety of musical groups, such as The Temptations, O’Jays, Four Tops, the Lawrence Welk Orchestra, the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Burt Bacharach, Wayne Newton, Sammy Davis Jr. and a host of other celebrities.

    After returning to Mississippi in 2004, Kornegay was employed as an adjunct music professor at Mississippi College, where he taught applied trumpet, brass methods, and directed the jazz ensemble. From 2008-10, Kornegay served as assistant professor of Music Industry at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, S.C. He is in demand as a lead and jazz trumpeter, as well as an active instructor, arranger, contractor, and clinician.

    Will Roland, bassist and composer, is originally from Southern California. While attending Cal State University-Bakersfield, he joined the band of world-renowned, avant-garde composer Doug Davis.

    Recently, he received national attention with the preliminary release of “At the Beach.” Roland currently lives in Meridian with his wife, Cindy, and their two children, Christopher and Emily. He owns his own consulting business, aptly named Gracenotes Consulting, Inc., which specializes in design services in architectural acoustics, sound reinforcement and integrated audio visual technology. Will was the main consultant for the Riley Center.

    The program for the Music Series concert will be selected from the following repertoire: “Blue Bossa,” Kenny Dorham; “Cherokee,” Ray Noble; “Crystal Clear (Muito Clara),” Carey Smith; “Days of Wine and Roses,” Henry Mancini/Johnny Mercer; “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” Duke Ellington; “Four,” Miles Davis; “Grooving On the Inside Track,” Carey Smith; “Infatuation,” Carey Smith; “Lush Life,” Billy Strayhorn; “My Funny Valentine,” Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart; “One-Note Samba,” Antonio Carlos Jobim; “Our Love Is Here to Stay,” George Gershwin; “Scrapple from the Apple,” Charlie Parker; and “St. Thomas,” Sonny Rollins.