A special program at the downtown Ann Arbor District Library on Sunday showcases a locally composed suite of music saluting the state of Michigan.

The Paul Keller Trio will perform Keller's Michigan Jazz Suite at 2 p.m. on January 3 in the Multi-Purpose Room at the library, 343 South Fifth Avenue. Admission is free. The 15 pieces in the suite were inspired by various aspects of the Great Lakes State, performed by Paul Keller (bass), Steve Richko (piano) and Sean Dobbins (drums).

In comments on his web site, Keller explains the birth of the project, which won the 2009 Detroit Music Award for Outstanding Jazz Recording:

"They say, 'Write about what you know.' So that’s what I did with the Michigan Jazz Suite. The idea of composing a jazz suite dedicated to my home state of Michigan came to me, ironically, as I was sitting on a plane heading to California where I was about to play at a jazz festival. As the son of a United Methodist minister, our family lived in six Michigan cities while I was growing up: Union City, Battle Creek, Rockford, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Muskegon. As a professional musician, I’ve traveled to play gigs all over the state and discovered unexpected treasures ... I definitely know Michigan. I decided as I sat there buckled into my airplane seat, 'I will honor my home state by composing a series of jazz tunes dedicated to specific people, places and icons of Michigan. And why not start right now?' So I did. By the time we landed in San Francisco four hours later, I had written down 15 possible titles and sketched out musical ideas for several new tunes! It had begun."

Among the titles of the pieces in the suite are "Big Mac," "Sleeping Bear" and "There's Something in the Water."

A couple of audio samples from the suite are available on Keller's web site, as are more details on the compositions and a chance to order a copy of the "Michigan Jazz Suite" CD.

The concert is one of a series of events connected to the new edition of Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads, which is focusing on "The Living Great Lakes: Searching for the Heart of the Inland Seas" by Jerry Dennis.

For more information on the concert, see the library web site or call 734-327-4555.