CHICAGO HEIGHTS | Playing to a sold-out crowd for the last several years, established jazz masters and promising prodigies will treat audiences to another red-hot performance at Prairie State College 20th annual Jazz Festival.

The concert will be Feb. 15 and also serves as the kickoff event for the college's 50th anniversary.

Some of the nation's top jazz artists will be featured, including the sounds of famed Chicago trumpeter Orbert Davis and New Orleans saxophonist Ed Petersen, according to a news release. Other featured performers include Larry Gray on bass and Joel Spencer on drums with PSC's own professor of music and local legend Valerie Nicholson rounding out the combo on piano.

The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in the college's auditorium. General admission is $12. Students and senior citizens pay $8. Tickets are available in advance in the business office by calling (708) 709-3577 and at the door the night of the concert.

"The concert just gets bigger and better every year, and the musicians enjoy coming back each time to jam with each other," said Nicholson, who also coordinates the festival.

This concert marks the 20th anniversary of this event. In celebration, a Jazz Festival alumni concert is planned for 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13. This concert is free and open to the public.

The concert will feature performers who have participated in the student clinics over the past 20 years. Performers include Neal Alger on guitar, Casey Driessen on violin, Daron Nelson on drums, and Corey Wilkes on trumpet.

The PSC Jazz Festival also brings together area junior high and high school jazz musicians for two days of instrumental clinics led by the featured artists. Each year these clinicians offer their expertise and instruction in jazz technique.

Those who attend the evening concert also can enjoy the current Christopher Art Gallery exhibit, Faces of Africa. The gallery will be open before the concert through intermission.

For more information on the festival or to buy tickets, call (708) 709-3500.