The Rodney Block Collective, with special guest Tyrone Block, will perform at the Southeast Arkansas Concert Association’s Valentine’s Dinner/Dance. The event will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 13 at the University of Arkansas at Monticello Gibson Center Green Room. Tickets are $40.
Renowned jazz trumpeter Rodney Block, an alum of Dumas High School and UAM, is returning for the Valentine’s treat.
Block has collaborated with the concert association in the public schools since 2020. He performs concerts for K-12th graders, introducing the kids to five types of jazz and sharing life skills for success. He has also performed in concert with the UAM Jazz Band 1 and at a UAM Homecoming Tailgate Party.
Beyond the stage, Block’s heart beats for sharing the gift of music with the younger generation, according to a news release.
A former UAM drum major and trumpeter, Block pursued his passion for music at UAM, earning a music scholarship. Surprisingly, he did not graduate with a degree in music; instead, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in speech and communications in 1994.
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As the founder of the Rodney Block Collective, he has performed at prestigious venues and shared stages with jazz and blues luminaries.
After graduation, Block went to Kansas and worked for the University of Kansas, recruiting for them in their admissions office.
“At the same time, I was still playing music, connecting with musicians,” Block said. “I met my wife there when she was in her second year of law school at the University of Kansas, and from there, we went out West to Albuquerque.”
“I had gone into pharmaceutical sales but was still playing music and connecting with musicians. So we were there for a couple of years,” said Block. “We returned to Arkansas and settled in Conway to be closer to the family. My family is still in south Arkansas, so the move was mainly to be closer since we’re, you know, we’re all getting older, and they’re getting older.”
Block said his dad still works. He is a longtime brick mason in this area.
“He did brickwork on several of the buildings here on the UAM campus. My dad worked their houses for some past staff members who used to live here in Monticello and work for the college. So, he has strong connections. And my dad is from Monticello,” Block said.
Susan Akin, is president of the Southeast Arkansas Concert Association, is inviting all the romantics to the dinner dance.
“Rodney is a treasure to us,” Akin said. “He is a find! He is someone who graduated from Dumas High School. He came to UAM; he was Gary Meggs’ first drum major and later became a jazz trumpeter and band leader.”
Block’s brother will also appear at the concert.
“Dr. Tyrone Block is a jazz trombonist, a Navy veteran, and a distinguished college professor,” Akin said. “These guys have both become professional jazz musicians. He has a fabulous resume and has recently played with the Duke Ellington Orchestra.
“We love to allow area artists to play their horns, sing their songs and amaze people. It’s going to be a fun Valentine’s event,” Akin said.
“Rodney plays the trumpet and loves attending the schools. He brings his five-member combo with him. There’s also an outstanding vocalist, a bass player, a keyboard artist, and maybe the best drummer I’ve ever heard,” Akin said.
The concert association is 47 years old.
“It started with UAM getting a brand-new fine arts center. They had a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility and no money to bring any shows. So Chancellor Claude Babin talked to a local lawyer and said, ‘We want to get people into this theater. Could you invite your friends and create an association that people could join? You could bring the events and use our theater for free.’ So that has worked. Initially, they called it the Town and Gown concept, where the people from Monticello and surrounding towns would interact with university professors and staff at the fine arts center,” Akin said.
Since then, the concert association has served seven counties: Drew, Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Cleveland, Desha, and Lincoln in southeast Arkansas.
The mission of the agency is to bring the performing arts, “music, dance, and live theater.”
“We have two categories of audiences. We’ve got membership events, and at this point, there are usually six shows,” she said.
In addition to the Valentine’s Dinner/Dance, the concert association is well-known for its annual community musical.
This year’s show is Peter Pan with director Kathy Lyon and choreographer Dalene Stephenson. The cast was selected in early January and is now preparing for 12 performances from March 4-9. The cast includes nearly 100 performers of all ages.
“We get involved with this because we have children and grandkids, and we just want to open their minds to the possibilities of being on the stage. Some children are very, very talented,” Akin said.
Block also fits the concert association mission. In schools, Block provides students with a history lesson but uses his instruments instead of a textbook.
“We talk about jazz because jazz was the one true art form indigenous to America. Here in America, everything else comes from somewhere else. When you think of art, when you think of food, when you think of sculpting and painting, originally those come from somewhere else,” said Block.
“But jazz music was created here in North America. So children need to know about that history. Then, they need to know about the individuals at the forefront of creating this music; some are from Arkansas. So they’re in proximity to New Orleans from Monticello, considered the birthplace of jazz,” said Block.
“Children know the Beyonces, the Jay-Zs, the SZAs, the music they hear on the radio,” Block said. “If you learn jazz music and fundamentals, all that other stuff is easy.”
“You wouldn’t have that music if it weren’t for jazz. So we’re giving them a little bit of everything. At the same time, we want them to have a good experience because not only do they listen, they sing and dance, they clap. So it’s a musical experience,” Block said.
What does Block see ahead for his future?
“Evolution, you know, because things change with the times! Collaboration,” said Block. “I love music, and I love different types of music. I want to work with more country artists, or I want to work more with maybe alternative rock kind of theme artists or more hip-hop artists. I think everybody has something to give. I think that collaborative spirit helps me in the creative process as a musician and in growing and evolving.”
For tickets or details, call (870) 460-1888 or visit searkconcert.org.