Rob Dixon to perform with the HAT Trio on Our Front Porch

The Western Illinois Museum, in collaboration with the Western Illinois University (WIU) School of Music, is thrilled to welcome world-class tenor saxophonist Rob Dixon to perform with the HAT Trio on Friday, April 4. Doors and the bar open at 4:30 pm, with two sets of music scheduled at 5:30 pm. and 6:30 pm. The evening will conclude with WIU students taking the stage at 7:30 p.m. There is a $5 suggested donation at the door. Come experience an evening of incredible music and a welcoming community.

The music of Rob Dixon is both respectful of tradition and free with expression, showcasing the musical depth and diversity within his creative voice. Currently based in Indianapolis, Dixon spent his formative years in New York City performing with legendary artists including the Count Basie Band, The Ellington Band, Slide Hampton, Rufus Reid, and notable figures including Bill Lee (father of Spike Lee), Weldon Irving, and Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe called Quest. In 2005, he founded Triology, a group that has featured bassist Brandon Meeks, keyboardist Steven Jones, and drummer Richard “Sleepy” Floyd. He also founded the Indianapolis Jazz Collective in 2012, which released the album titled Jazz on Canvas. 

Dixon is a lecturer at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music, an adjunct professor at IUPUI, and the artistic director for Indy Jazz Fest. He mentors the Jazz Futures ensemble, an Indianapolis Jazz foundation-sponsored group of talented high school students, and also directs the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra Youth Jazz Ensemble. Dixon continues to perform and tour frequently in the United States and abroad. Locally, Dixon plays regularly at The Jazz Kitchen, Chatterbox Jazz Club, Mousetrap Bar & Grill, and all around Indianapolis.

Joining Dixon for the evening will be the HAT Trio, featuring WIU jazz faculty members Matt Hughes on bass, George Turner on guitar, and Whitney Ashe on piano. After their performance, WIU students will host an after-party with additional live music. Stay tuned for updates and details about the after-party by following @WIMuseum and @WIU School of Music on social media. 

This performance is part of the Museum’s Music on Our Front Porch series, which brings vibrant jazz and classical musicians to a relaxed, intimate setting in the Museum’s unique garage space. The series continues on May 2nd, featuring clarinetist Eric Ginsberg in a concert of world premieres by Midwestern composers Kate Pukinskis and local residents Jim Caldwell and John Mindeman, commissioned for the Camerata Nova Quintet. 

This program is funded in part by grants from the Illinois Arts Council and WIU Performing Arts Society.

The Western Illinois Museum is a non-profit organization celebrating and nurturing the history, culture, and traditions of McDonough County. It is a vibrant community hub that features exhibits, an open collection area, lectures, music, and other programs in a historic building. The Museum is located at 201 S. Lafayette Street, one block south of Macomb’s Courthouse Square. 

A full schedule of events can be found at wimuseum.org or follow on social media @wimuseum. For further information, call 309-837-2750, text 309-837-2613, or email info@wimuseum.org.