The nationally renowned Northern Illinois University Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of professor Ron Carter, will perform with special guest artist, drummer Dennis Mackrel, at 8 p.m. Nov. 15 in the Duke Ellington Ballroom in the Holmes Student Center.

New School of Music faculty member, saxophonist Geof Bradfield, will join the band. The concert is free and open to the public.

Since June 1998, the Jazz Studies Program at NIU has been rated as one of the top 10 graduate jazz programs in the country by U.S. News & World Report. In addition, the NIU Jazz Studies has won significant recognition from Downbeat Magazine’s Student Recognition Awards, capturing more than 10 Outstanding Performance Awards.