The U.S. Navy Commodores Jazz Band will appear as part of the Sweet Briar College Babcock Season on Tuesday, Sept. 28 at 7:30 p.m. in Murchison Lane Auditorium of the Babcock Fine Arts Center. Tickets are free, but reservations are highly recommended.

As the U.S. Navy's premier jazz ensemble, the Commodores offer the finest in jazz, which some consider America's true classical music. A specialty unit of The United States Navy Band in Washington, D.C., the group features 18 of the Navy's top jazz and big band musicians.

Under the direction of chief musician Randy D. Mattson, the Commodores combine the best of jazz and popular music. Many of the members compose and arrange music for the group in styles ranging from the authentic sounds of the swing era to contemporary music.

In 2003, the Commodores performed at the 30th Annual Conference of the International Association for Jazz Education in Toronto, Canada. In 2002, the Commodores performed at the 56th Annual Conference of The Midwest Clinic, An International Band and Orchestra Conference, in Chicago. The group has also performed at the Detroit Montreux Jazz Festival and the famed Newport Jazz Festival, and toured Central and South America, and Europe as well as the United States.

Bob Mintzer, James Moody, Eugene "Snooky" Young, Clark Terry, Louie Bellson, and Ray Charles are a few of the artists who have appeared with the band. In 1998, jazz vibraphonist Terry Gibbs performed with the group at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Anaheim, Calif. The group also performed with trumpet virtuoso Arturo Sandoval at the 1997 Walt Disney World Jazz Festival in Orlando, Fla.

The group's latest CD, "Commodores Live!" was released in 2002. Other recordings by the Commodores include the popular "Sessions on M Street, S.E." (1998), "Here and Now" (1996), "Some Bop" (1988), and "Full Swing Ahead" (1982).

For tickets please call the Babcock Theatre Box Office at (434) 381-6120.