For Immediate Release						May 1,1996
 
Down Beat Cites Lawrence University Saxophonist for Outstanding Performance 
 
 
APPLETON, WIS. - Lawrence University hasn't cornered the market on all the
country's best young jazz saxophonists, it only seems that way.  

For the second year in a row, Down Beat magazine has recognized a Lawrence
musician with its outstanding college performance award in the jazz
instrumentalist category.  Javier Arau, a junior from Sacramento, Calif., was
cited with a "DB" in the magazine's 19th annual student music awards contest.  

DB winners, considered among the highest honors accorded college and high
school music students, were announced in the May edition of the magazine.      	
Arau's award marks the second straight year a Lawrence student received Down
Beat's outstanding college jazz performance award.  Saxophonist Doug Schneider,
who graduated last year but still resides in Appleton and performs regularly
around the Fox Valley, received last year's outstanding college performance
award. Lawrence students have earned DBs in five of the last six years and have
been honored with awards eight times since 1985.  

Calling it a "fantastic honor," Arau said he learned of his good fortune when
he walked past the office of Ken Schaphorst, assistant professor of music and
director of Lawrence's jazz studies, and noticed a photocopy from Down Beat
posted on the door.  "I looked at it a little closer and saw my name.  I
couldn't believe it."

"I'm still pretty much in a state of shock," added Arau, who is majoring in
both music composition, with a jazz emphasis, and economics at Lawrence.  "A
lot of hard work has paid off, which is a real good feeling.  It's always nice
to get that kind of national recognition."

A tenor saxophonist, Arau, 20, was cited for his performance on the Lawrence
University Jazz Ensemble CD, "Inceptions," including the pieces "Gypsy
Children," an original composition he wrote five years ago while in high
school, "Single Call," a composition written by his older brother, Matthew, who
is a senior at Lawrence, and a be-bop version of "Sweet Georgia Brown."

"It's gratifying and exciting to see someone's hard work pay off with that kind
of national recognition," said Schaphorst.  "I'm particularly excited for
Javier because not only is he an extremely talented musician, but he's also the
hardest-working student I've ever taught at Lawrence.  I've never seen a
student who developed so quickly and in such a strong and purposeful way."

An accomplished musician who learned as a teenager to play a variety of
instruments, including the piano, clarinet and string bass, Arau began playing
the tenor saxophone in the seventh grade.  While each new instrument became his
personal favorite at the time, he has since settled on the tenor saxophone as
his "instrument for life."

In addition to his considerable performing talents, Arau sees himself as a
serious composer as well.  Earlier this year, Arau produced a transcription of
Joe Henderson's Grammy-award winning performance of "Lush Life" that was
published in the Jazz Educator's Journal.  Arau pain-stakingly recorded the
notes and nuances of the piece after listening repeatedly to a tape of
Henderson's improvised performance.  His transcription is believed to be the
first ever fully notated version of the piece.  
	
Contact:  Rick Peterson, Manager of News Services, 414/832-6590