Jazz in the Hills is featuring a special three-show concert series beginning Friday, March 20.

The series will be held at The Emerson Art Gallery, located at the corner of Saguaro and Palisades. All three shows are from 7 to 9:30 p.m.

The first show on March 20 features a quintet led by New York trumpeter Joe Magnarelli.

The band includes Fountain Hills bassist Jack Radavich, Jerry Donato on tenor sax, Armand Boatman on piano, and Los Angeles drummer Dick Weller.

Magnarelli is a popular jazz trumpeter in NYC and currently is an adjunct professor of music at the Juilliard School of Music and Rutgers University. The group will be performing tunes from his recently released CD, “Looking Up,” and other jazz standards.

The second show is set for April 3 and features the return of The Mike Vax Quartet with special guest vocalist Dennis Rowland.

This all-star group includes guitarist Jack Petersen, bassist Selwyn Reams and drummer Cleve Huff.

Vax is known as the lead trumpeter from and now band leader of The Stan Kenton Band. Dennis Rowland is a Valley resident known for his rich, deep voice. Rowland has shared the stage with the Count Basie Orchestra and with such icons as Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald and Tony Bennett.

The third show of the series, set for April 17, features ASU Jazz faculty trumpet instructor Denny Monce and his quintet.

Monce is a Valley native who began his professional career traveling the world with a variety of jazz groups.

He settled back into the Phoenix area both teaching and performing; with his group and as a member of the “pit orchestra” for many traveling acts that perform in Phoenix.

This show’s intermission will feature the Fountain Hills High Falcon Jazz Band.

Tickets for each show are $20 in advance, $15 at the door. High school and younger students are free with adult purchase. Tickets are available at www.jazzinthehills.org.

Jazz in the Hills is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Proceeds from concert events support jazz education in local schools.

Jazz workshops and clinics are sponsored by Jazz in the Hills and provide middle and high school kids the unique opportunity of learning from top jazz performers in the nation as they visit the Valley.

This year, Jazz in the Hills is offering three scholarships to area students for future jazz study. Information and applications for scholarships, tickets, and membership are available at jazzinthehills.org.