STEUBENVILLE — The Ohio Valley Music Guild’s annual jazz event will feature the Paul Thompson Quartet on Sept. 23 at the Steubenville Country Club, 413 Lovers Lane.

Doors open at 5 p.m. with cocktails and appetizers available at 5:15 p.m. A buffet dinner is at 6:15 p.m., with the music beginning at 7 p.m. Valet parking will be available.

“Jazz is our favorite event, because I think more people are appreciative of jazz music,” said event Chair Debbie Elias of the evening of jazz, dinner and entertainment

Plus, Elias added, it’s quality music, a relaxed environment, good food, fun, an opportunity to socialize and an outlet that helps raise money for the guild’s two annual projects — a scholarship award and a donation to the Grand Theater Restoration Project.

“We’ve had this event for several years, and it’s always been a popular one,” remarked committee member and guild Membership Chairman Lil Ferguson, who noted the event is open not only to members but the public as well in hopes of attracting new members to the nonprofit organization that works to “bring good music to the valley.”

The Paul Thompson Quartet includes Thompson, bass; Mike Tomaro, saxophone; Daniel May, piano and vocals; and David Throckmorton, drums.

Thompson has been playing professionally for more than 25 years, including recording and touring stints with trumpeter Maynard Ferguson and saxophonist Stanley Turrentine. Currently he can be seen playing around the Pittsburgh area with Salsamba!, OPEK, the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra, in the pit orchestra at the Byham or Hazlett Theater or performing with some of the city’s rich jazz community.

He has been a guest artist/clinician at Duquesne University, West Virginia University, Kent State University, Slipper Rock University and West Virginia Wesleyan College among others. He is an adjunct instrumental music teacher at his alma mater, Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 Performing Arts School.

Tomaro has been the director of the jazz studies program at the Mary Pappert School of Music at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh since 1997. The saxophonist, composer, arranger and educator earned his bachelor’s of science degree in music education from Duquesne University and his master’s degree in saxophone performance from George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.

Prior to his appointment at Duquesne, he lived in the Washington, D.C., area for 17 years as a member of the Army Blues Jazz Ensemble, a unit of the prestigious “Pershing’s Own” U.S. Army Band. While a member of this group, he served as its enlisted musical director and performed for Presidents Reagan, Bush and Clinton as well as heads of state from around the world. He also composed and/or arranged much of the Army Blues repertoire and was featured as a soloist on several of the group’s albums and CDs.

As a performer, Tomaro has worked with such diverse artists and groups as Rosemary Clooney, Ray Charles, Michael Feinstein, Linda Ronstadt, Debby Boone, Johnny Mathis, Wayne Bergeron, Terence Blanchard, Louis Bellson, Terry Gibbs, Dizzy Gillespie Tribute Big Band, Woody Herman Orchestra and the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, where he is featured on its DVD, “Live at MCG.” In his hometown, he has performed with guitarist Joe Negri, Pittsburgh Jazz Legacy Band, Pittsburgh Symphony, River City Brass Band, Pittsburgh Ballet and Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble in addition to leading his own small groups.

Tomaro is the co-artistic director and lead alto player of the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra, the city’s premier big band, where he composes and arranges most of the material that group performs. In 2015, the band released its first CD, “Joyful Jazz,” on the MCG Jazz label; the album contains 11 arrangements by Tomaro. He also has four nationally released recordings under his own name that showcase his talents as both performer and composer/arranger.

Tickets are $40 per person with Monday the RSVP deadline. For event details, contact Elias at (740) 266-2203 or other committee members Joyce Ryan-Orlando, (740) 264-0292; Ferguson, (740) 264-2232; or Barbara Jean Losey, (740) 264-1088.

The jazz event is one of three musical offerings the guild organizes annually. The final 2017 event will feature the Wheeling Symphony String Quartet on Nov. 19 at St. Florian Hall in Wintersville. It will be the program for the guild’s annual dinner and membership meeting.

Other guild officers are Marie-Helene Wilson, first vice president; Josephine Irvine-Groves, secretary; and Kathy Antinone, treasurer.

The guild welcomes new members with $20 being the annual fee although other donor membership levels are available, from $50 on up. Questions can be directed to Ferguson at (740) 264-2232. Checks can be made payable to the Ohio Valley Music Guild and mailed to the guild at P.O. Box 2158, Wintersville OH 43953.