"Sherlock Holmes and His World of Drug Use" will be the topic of the April 26 University Forum lecture at UNLV.

Larry Ashley, an addictions counselor with UNLV's department of counseling, will discuss the famous detective's use of cocaine and morphine. Ashley will focus on the historical context of drug use during the Victorian Era in which the Holme's stories are set. He also will address Sigmund Freud's defense of cocaine for medical purposes.

On May 2, world-renown saxophonist Bob Sheppard will explain "Jazz Improvisation: What Are Those Musicians Doing, and How Do They Do It?" Sheppard, who just completed international tours with Steely Dan and Joni Mitchell, will use familiar songs by such artists as George Gershwin and Cole Porter to demonstrate the basic concepts of playing jazz. Sheppard will be accompanied by the UNLV Jazz Faculty Trio consisting of Stefan Karlsson, Tom Warrington, and Chris Benham. The audience will not only enjoy a wonderful jazz concert, but also will gain a deeper understanding of how jazz music is put together.

Both lectures are set for 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History. All University Forum lectures are free and open to the public.

The University Forum lecture series is sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts and is underwritten by the UNLV Foundation. For more information on the series, call 895-3401 or send an E-mail to: forum@nevada.edu.