PORT ANGELES ­– When New Orleans jazz patriarch Ellis Marsalis comes to town Thursday, he’ll be feted by a local jazz septet and a trio of caterers dishing up Big Easy fare.

“Ellis Marsalis: A Night in New Orleans” is this year’s American Conversations program presented by the Peninsula College Foundation in the campus’ Little Theater at 6 p.m. Thursday; tickets are $125 and proceeds will benefit college scholarships and programs. For reservations, phone 360-417-6264.

To set the tone for the evening, New Orleans-style hors d’oeuvres such as Mardi gras shrimp and crawfish purses, plus signature cocktails and wines from Olympic Cellars and Camaraderie Cellars, will be served in the college’s PUB, courtesy of the Red Lion, Cameron’s and A Catered Affair.

This is a cocktail-hour kind of scene rather than a sit-down dinner, said Mary Hunchberger, foundation executive director.

Once fortified, guests will move into the Little Theater at 7:30 p.m. for Marsalis’ performance.

Also warming up the crowd will be a subset of the Peninsula College Jazz Ensemble, led by pianist David Jones.

The septet features saxophonists Andy Geiger and Kevin MacCartney, trumpeter Joey Lazzaro, trombonist Don Smaltz, bassist Michael Kochanek and drummer Tor Brandes.

“We have a really good band. I feel proud to put them out there,” Jones said.

“I’m very excited,” he added, to hear Marsalis talk about his life as a performer and teacher of modern jazz in New Orleans.

“It’s very unusual,” said Jones, “to get a jazz musician of his caliber out here.”

In addition to his evening appearance, the pianist will be Thursday’s Studium Generale speaker, taking the stage at 12:35 p.m. for a free presentation in the Little Theatre.