Morgan Guerin and the Morgan Guerin Quartet are set to make their debut performance at the Arts Council’s Evenings of Intimate Jazz series at 8 p.m. Saturday at The Arts Council’s Smithgall Arts Center in Gainesville.

Morgan Guerin, 12, was introduced to jazz at 6 months of age when given drumsticks by his grandmother, a jazz bassist. He’s been playing ever since.

Growing up in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, jazz has always been an integral part of Morgan’s life.

His father, bassist Roland Guerin, regularly plays the jazz circuit with notable jazz legends and his mother, Brianna, an Atlanta attorney, also plays jazz piano.

Morgan got his first saxophone at age 6. Since then, Morgan has learned how to play the alto, tenor and soprano saxophones, bass clarinet, violin and piano.

Morgan has had the great fortune of learning the language of jazz from Herman Jackson, Tony DeGradi, Jason Marsalis, Johnny Vidacovich, Darryl Reeves and Steve Masakowski.

He has shared the stage with many notables while sitting in with his dad.

Morgan will be joined by Jared Lanham on drums, Michael Beshara on bass and Corey Taylor on piano.

After acquiring a business degree at Gainesville State College, Lanham moved to Atlanta and enrolled in the jazz studies program at Georgia State University.

Lanham currently hosts a jazz jam session at Slice pizza restaurant in Atlanta and plays with other jazz groups around town. Lanham is also a sub with The Drive By Big Band, Big Peach Big Band, and Capital City X-Press Big Band in Atlanta.

With a background in marching percussion, Lanham is also part of the Atlanta Falcons Drumline and teaches marching percussion around metro Atlanta.

A Georgia native, Beshara is a bassist currently residing in Atlanta. He performs a full spectrum of genres including, but not limited to jazz, fusion, funk, classical and rock.

Beshara has performed with local acts such as the Soundmen, the Stephen Wood Ensemble, Shark Week II, and he has performed with international acts such as Slide Hampton, Jimmy Heath, Jon Faddis, Michael Mossman and David Sanchez.

While at Clemson University, Taylor joined the Clemson University Jazz Band, which was his introduction to jazz. Taylor earned his bachelor’s in piano performance from Clemson University followed by a master’s in jazz studies. Taylor currently serves as the Music Director at New Covenant Christian Ministries in Lithonia.

Evenings of Intimate Jazz tickets are $30 per person or $25 per person if purchased in a group of six or more.

Tickets may be ordered online at www.theartscouncil.net or call 770-534-2787.

To hear and see Morgan please visit the website at www.theartscouncil.net.

The final performance in the 2010-2011 Evenings of Intimate Jazz Season is Steve Cunningham and Friends on May 13.