A-State Jazz Ensembles to Perform in Concert, Nov. 12
JONESBORO – On Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m. in Fowler Center, Riceland Hall, Jazz at A-State will present the second concert of the “Great Writers” Series. Director of Jazz at A-State is Dr. Ken Carroll, associate professor of music. This concert is free and open to the public.
The evening will begin with the 11:00 Big Band playing “C Jam Blues,” put together by Tommy Newsom for Doc Severinsen’s Tonight Show Big Band. Bill Holman’s arrangement of Thelonious Monk’s “Bemsha Swing,” originally arranged for Stan Kenton’s band, will follow. The opening set will close with John Clayton’s arrangement of Duke Ellington’s “Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me.” The arrangement will feature the baritone voice of Matt Carey, assistant professor of music.
The second portion of the program will feature Delta Vox, the A-State vocal jazz group, under the direction of Dr. Kyle Chandler, assistant professor of music. Selections to be performed include “But Beautiful” by Burke and Van Heusen and arranged by Steve Zegree; “Orange Colored Sky” by DeLugg and Steen and arranged by Jim Elsberry; “Route 66” by Bobby Troup and arranged by Tom O’Connor and Kyle Chandler; and “This Masquerade” by Leon Russell and arranged by Kirby Shaw.
Closing out the evening of music by great writers will be a set from the 10:00 Big Band. The band will open with another Tom O’Connor arrangement, an intricate look at the Sonny Rollins hit “Tenor Madness.” Featuring first-year pianist Cassie Ferrell, the band will play Mary Lou Williams’ “Chunka Lunka,” written in 1968 for Ben Webster’s historic performance with the Danish National Radio Jazz Band.
Dr. Don Bowyer, dean of the College of Fine Arts at A-State, composed a tune for a returning serviceman titled “Big Bad Baghdad Blues,” allowing the clever soloists of the band to display their thoughts. The show will close with an icon from the Count Basie library, “All of Me.” Arranged for the band by Billy Byers, this classic closes the second “Great Writers” concert.
For more details about this concert or information about A-State Music, one may call the Department of Music at (870) 972-2094.
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