Walter Blanding, a saxophonist with the renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, will perform live on KPLU with local high school jazz students at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 22 and will be featured in a series of live jazz performances around the Northwest March 23 to 26.

Blanding’s appearances are made possible by JazzClubsNW, a local nonprofit established to support live jazz performance and education in the Pacific Northwest.

The live studio session is part of KPLU’s School of Jazz mentoring program. Blanding will perform with the Future Jazz Head All Stars, a group of jazz students who have grown up playing Jazz at Boxley’s in North Bend.

KPLU’s School of Jazz program, now in its 12th year, supports the next generation of local jazz musicians by providing professional mentors for high school and college jazz groups, culminating in live, on-air performances.

Blanding will join well-known local jazz musicians including pianist Danny Kolke, bassist Michael Glynn, and drummers Greg Williamson and Julian MacDonough in performances at Boxley’s in North Bend on March 24, Whatcom Jazz Music Arts Center in Bellingham on March 23, and the B Sharp Coffee House in Tacoma on March 26. In addition, Blanding will be conducting clinics and workshops at many area schools.

For tickets and more information, visit tacomajazzassociation.org.