Saxophonist Hamiet Bluiett will make his way to NIU today to perform with the NIU Jazz Ensemble.

The concert will take place at 8 p.m. in the Duke Ellington Ballroom at the Holmes Student Center. Under the direction of Ronald Carter, the band also will feature a performance by music majors Saalik Ziyad and Nadine Gonzales.

Bluiett has been recognized for playing his saxophone with such artists as Babatunde Olatunji, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Eddie Jefferson and Randy Weston.

Among his many accomplishments, Bluiett has performed at the World Saxophone Quartet and has participated with other band members in the Justin Time discography, which includes six World Saxophone Quartet recordings.

Saalik Ziyad performs jazz, opera and classical music at NIU. He is a senior in vocal performance.

Throughout Ziyad’s singing career, he has performed with the Kenwood Academy Concert Choir, Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chicago’s Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians.

Paul Bauer, chair of the department of music, believes all students, not just music majors, should attend the fall concert.

“This is a kind of music that applies to a wide variety of interest,” Bauer said. “It is also a special opportunity to hear an internationally recognized ensemble.”

According to a press release, US News and World Report have rated the NIU Jazz Ensemble as one of the top 10 graduate jazz programs. The ensemble also has won more than eight Outstanding Performances awards from Downbeat Magazine’s Student Recognition Award.