SKOWHEGAN -- Award-winning saxophonist and composer Jeff Coffin will bring his musical talent and expertise to Skowhegan students and jazz aficionados alike next Tuesday.

A member of the two-time, Grammy Award-winning BŽla Fleck and the Flecktones since 1997, Coffin has shared the stage with such diverse and renowned acts as the Dave Matthews Band, Phish, Van Morrison, the Dixie Chicks, Umphrey's McGee and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

The internationally renowned performer and clinician will begin his daylong visit at Skowhegan Area High School, according to SAHS Band Director John Reeves.

Reeves said Coffin, a Dexter native, will work with high school and middle schools groups and provide jazz improvisational clinics and workshops in the afternoon in the auditorium. Coffin will provide a public concert at 7 p.m. in the auditorium, playing with the Tom Snow Trio.

For the past several years, Maine-based pianist Tom Snow has built a solid reputation as a versatile jazz musician whose abilities have been showcased throughout the country and who is often joined by other musicians.

Reeves said Coffin's stop in Skowhegan is a real coup for the students and the town.

"It's not often we get someone of this caliber coming through Skowhegan," Reeves said. "Coffin is highly touted in how he works with students. He may be classified as a jazz musician sometimes, but that's not his philosophy. For him, music is music and you play whatever genre you can. That's kind of what he's all about."

Reeves said Coffin brings his love for music for the entire community to share. The 3 p.m. clinic is open to the public, as is the concert. The fee for the clinic is $7, the concert costs $10, or $15 for clinic and concert. Other area schools are invited to the clinic, he said. Tickets are available at the door or by calling the high school at 474-5511, ext. 5232 in advance.

Coffin has this summer also has been playing with the Dave Matthews Band and as a Yamaha and Vandoren performing artist since 2000, according to information supplied by Reeves.

Reeves said Coffin brings an inspiring energy and unique personal approach to his clinics and performances. Since 2001, he has led more than 100 clinics at various colleges, high schools and junior high schools. Students and audiences from Farmington Maine to Perth, Australia have benefited from Coffin's unique teaching and performing techniques, according to Reeves' information.

The band director said Coffin is known for helping many students gain a deeper understanding of music.

For the uninitiated, BŽla Fleck and the Flecktones is a multi-Grammy winning primarily instrumental group from the United States that draws equally on bluegrass, fusion and jazz, sometimes dubbed "blue-bop." Each of the current members of the quartet has released at least one solo album.

"Coffin, from Dexter, has made it pretty big in the world of music," Reeves said.

Darla L. Pickett -- 474-9534, ext. 341

dpickett@centralmaine.com