ATLANTA —The Ferst Center for the Arts at Georgia Tech jazz series continues with "An Evening of Ellington" with the Jon Faddis Jazz Orchestra of New York at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Prior to the show, audience members can attend Jazz Connect, a free audience discussion with Jay Edwards, host of Jazz Tones on WCLK 91.9 FM, and a pre-performance screening of the documentary, "Reflections: An Oral History of Duke Ellington and the Harlem Renaissance."

Jon Faddis Jazz Orchestra of New York, the successor to the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band (1992-2002) continues its legacy of artistic diversity, adventuresome arrangements and musical pre-eminence.

Born in 1953, Faddis began playing trumpet at age 7, inspired by an appearance by Louis Armstrong on television. Meeting Dizzy Gillespie at 15 proved to be a pivotal beginning of a unique friendship that spanned almost three decades. Shortly before his 18th birthday, Faddis joined Lionel Hampton's band.

Faddis worked as lead trumpet for the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra at the Village Vanguard, formed his own quartet and soon began directing orchestras, including the Grammy-winning United Nation Orchestra (1980s), the Dizzy Gillespie 70th Birthday Big Band (1987), the Carnegie Hall Centennial Big Band (1991) just to name a few.

He formed the Jon Faddis Jazz Orchestra of New York in 2003 and now tours with this 18-member orchestra. Faddis has also served as guest conductor and featured guest with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and as a featured guest with the Chicago Jazz Orchestra.

His guest appearances in symphonic and orchestral settings include conducting the San Francisco Symphony in a presentation of Duke Ellington's works and performing with Marin Alsop with the Colorado Symphony.

Faddis' distinctive trumpet sound appears on hundreds of records and numerous soundtracks for film and television.

Other Faddis compositions may be heard on his Grammy-nominated "Remembrances" (1998), "Hornucopia" (1991), "Into the Faddisphere" (1989), and most recently on the critically-acclaimed release "TERANGA" (2006).

The Ferst Center 2010-2011 jazz series will continue with Eric Marienthal (8 p.m. March 25) and Peabo Bryson (8 p.m. April 16).

A club seating section featuring individual tables and chairs in front of the stage is available for all jazz shows during the 2010-11 Ferst Center season.

The Jazz Connect free pre-performance talk and the pre-performance documentary screening each will begin at 7 p.m.