The Twin Cities Jazz Society continues its presentation of student jazz ensembles Feb. 3 with the high school band, Public Newsense. The group will play from 7-8:15 p.m. at the Artists Quarter in downtown St. Paul (408 St. Peter Street, lower level of the Hamm Building). Initiated in spring 2010, this series features students (middle school-college) in school or independent ensembles, approximately six times per year. Public Newsense is a quintet of young artists from St. Paul. Formed about two years ago following an invitation from the director of the Freedom Jazz Festival, the band has played at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival and Freedom Jazz Festival, as well as for private events. The group’s repertoire includes standards and original arrangements, with a little reggae and hip-hop in addition to mainstream jazz. 

The musicians of Public Newsense include DeCarlo Jackson, trumpet (age 15, St. Paul Conservatory of Performing Arts); DeVante Jackson, tenor sax (age 17, St. Paul Central High School); Evan Slack, guitar (age 15, St. Paul Conservatory of Performing Arts); Gavin Taylor-Stark, bass (age 15, St. Paul Central High School); and Adam Sawyer, drums (age 15, St. Paul Conservatory for Perform-ing Arts).Upcoming shows in the Young Artists Series include: May 5, Dakota Combo directed by Adam Linz; and June 2, finalists in the Schubert Club/Dakota Foundation for Jazz Education Piano Scholarship Competition. Bands of up to eight musicians of middle school, high school or college age are invited to apply to perform on the Young Artists Series in 2011-2012