Gregory Jones is all about the brass.
As a professor of trumpet at Truman State University, Jones will be the guest performer at the Jefferson City Symphonic Band's free public concert at 2 p.m. Sunday at Calvary Lutheran High School.
Jones has a doctorate in music performance and literature from the Eastman School of Music. He has played with dozens of prominent orchestras - such as the Kansas City Symphony and the Moscow Radio Orchestra - and alongside other nationally renowned musicians, such as Wynton Marsalis, Al Jarreau, Bill Conti and John Tesh.
Jones will be playing two pieces, "Dramatic Essay" by American composer James Clifton Williams in 1958 and "Concierto de Aranjuez - Adagio" by Spanish composer JoaquÃn Rodrigo in 1939.
Although he's memorized thousands of musical selections, Jones has never played Williams' "Dramatic Essay" before.
"It's a lot of fun for me. It's nice to learn something new," Jones said.
Rodrigo originally composed Adagio for the guitar, but Jones will play an arrangement for brass on Sunday. People familiar with both British film and classical music will remember "Concierto de Aranjuez" from the comedy-drama, "Brassed Off," where the lead female protagonist plays it so beautifully that she enchants every listener.
"It's an all-male band," Jones said. "She wins them over in every possible way."
Blind from the age of 3 after contracting diphtheria, Rodrigo wrote "Concierto de Aranjuez" while living in Paris. The title refers to the beautiful gardens surrounding a palace near Madrid.
Jones said Sunday's performance will showcase the deeper, mellower sound of the flugelhorn, a brass instrument resembling a trumpet.
Jones said usually musical selections for the trumpet are athletic and end on a high note. He said this selection is mellower and gives audiences more of an opportunity to enjoy the piece's melody and virtuosity.
"I always like something a little different," he said.
Trumpeters tend to be the "bad boys" of the orchestra, he said. Because of their ability to project a large, loud sound, trumpeters tend to have brash personalities and often are orchestra leaders.
"It's a very physical instrument, so trumpeters usually can't play more than two hours a day. We sit a lot, and so we have time to get in trouble," he teased.
It can also be hard to find places to practice. Jones said he's practiced standing near his car, buried in his closet and hidden in a grove of trees. While traveling in Greece, he played during the mid-afternoon siesta to the consternation of everyone nearby.
"I learned all kinds of cool, Greek swear words," he said.
Jones said he's excited to perform in the Capital City for the first time, and he hopes people will take the time to attend.
"We need music to be a part of people's lifestyles," he said. "Just get up and go. You'll be glad you did."
Conductor Paul Hinman said his organization is delighted to be able to host Jones - and learn musical pieces to showcase his work - as part of their visiting artists' series.
Although Jones is the featured artist, the band will also be playing pieces of their own.
"It's a complete concert," Hinman said. "We hope people enjoy the concert and take advantage of hearing one of our state's teaching artists. I'm thankful we have someone who is willing to give up their time and share their talents with us."
Other pieces scheduled for Sunday's program include:
• "By Loch and Mountain" by composer Robert W. Smith.
• "Chorale and Shaker Dance" by John Zdechlik.
• Music from the movie "How to Train Your Dragon."
• "Declaration Overture" by Claude T. Smith.
• "Overture for Winds" by Charles Carter.
For the first time, the symphonic band will be appearing in the Calvary Lutheran High School. Hinman said he's excited about the venue.
"It's going to work really nicely for us," Hinman said.