Dennis Borycki

The free concert, scheduled for 7:30 p.m., is part of the “Jazz Concerts at the PAS” series, is produced and sponsored by The Performing Arts Studio and Jazz in June.

The performance will feature a combination of the poetry of noted Canadian poet Glen Sorestad with a musical trio accompaniment, and jazz repertoire played by a trio consisting of Oklahoma musicians Dennis Borycki on keyboards, Johnny Nelson on bass and Chris Hicks on sax.

During the each of the two sets, Sorestad will read for 15-20 minutes with the musical accompaniment, and the trio will play the rest of the set.

“The background music is written primarily by me, but there also will be a bit of musical composing collaboration among the performers,” Borycki said. “Some of the music might even be partly improvised at the time of performance. We are interested in maintaining a degree of spontaneity in the spirit of the ‘jazz’ language.”

Sorestad’s poems have appeared in literary magazines and journals, online journals and Web sites and more than 50 anthologies and textbooks, and have been translated into a half-dozen languages. He has authored more than 20 books of poems, including Road Apples (2009) and What We Miss (2010). Sorestad has given public readings of his work in every province of Canada and 17 U.S. states, as well as France, Norway, Finland and Slovenia. He is a recipient of the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal for his contributions to literature in Canada.

Borycki, a Norman resident, earned a master’s degree in organ performance from the University of Oklahoma under the guidance of Mildred Andrews Boggess.  As much a fan of jazz piano as pipe organ, Borycki’s mentors include Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea,  Herbie Hancock. He moved to Nashville in 1988, where he began playing keyboards for country star Jerry Reed. He also has recorded and played live with such artists as Ty England, Watermelon Slim, Bo Diddley, The Platters, The Drifters and The Coasters. In addition, Borycki has several original recordings to his credit.

Nelson is a member of the Oklahoma City-based Heather Nelson Trio, which performs a repertoire of jazz classics at venues and events throughout Oklahoma and the Midwest, including the Oklahoma Governor’s Mansion, National Cowboy Western Heritage Museum and Remington Park, as well as the Greenwood Jazz Festival in Tulsa, Jazz In June in Norman, the Edmond Jazz Festival and Oklahoma City’s Festival of the Arts and Opening Night.

Hicks, of Oklahoma City, plays saxophone and guitar in styles ranging from jazz to R&B and country. His first big gig was with renowned jazz trumpeter Chet Baker. In 1993, Hicks moved to Nashville, where he joined recording artists Restless Heart. From 1995 to 2000, he played with Reba McEntire's band as it toured the United States, Europe, Australia and Brazil. He also has performed live with Sara Evans and Brooks and Dunn. Hicks’s television appearances include The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with David Letterman and The Rosie O'Donnell Show.

Jazz Concerts at the PAS are made possible in part by grants from the Norman Arts Council, Oklahoma Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information about the concert and other PAS programs,  or call (405) 307-9320.