Wheelers set to perform Jazz guitar concert

by Jerrod Carr, staff writer

The great American art known as jazz music is going to be displayed through the eyes and fingers of Brent and Emily Wheeler.

The Wheelers are guitar professors at South Plains College.  But aside from teaching, they are phenomenal musicians, who wish to share their talent with the public.   

The Wheelers will be featured in a jazz guitar concert at 7:30 pm on Feb. 21, in the Tom T. Hall Recording and Production Studio in the Creative Arts Building on the Levelland campus.  Admission is free.    

The Wheelers will be performing works by Joe Henderson, Larry Young and many more of their favorite artists. 

“Jazz is such a huge umbrella of music,” Brent Wheeler said.

They will perform several different styles, such as funk and New Orleans backbeat. 

Brent Wheeler has been playing guitar for 20 years, and throughout that time has played every type of music, from classical guitar, to rock, and folk music.  Some of his influences include Grant Green, Miles Davis and Paul Simon. 

Emily Wheeler has been playing guitar since she was 5 years old, but she had the advantage of having her father Michael Christiansen, an esteemed guitar player and author of several guitar books, teach and guide her.  She has been influenced by Charlie Christian, Mike Stern and Wes Montgomery.

The Wheelers are in their fifth year of teaching at South Plains College.  In the process, they have touched the lives of many students, not only teaching them guitar, but how to be a success in life as well. 

“Jazz is just as normal as any other style of music,” Brent Wheeler said, “…It is about having fun and playing music.”     

The Wheelers encourage anyone who would like to enjoy an evening of the true American art to attend their concert.              

 Photo by Savannah Nash/Plainsman Press