Jazzfest facts, hot off the press. - New Jersey Jazz Society

More documents

Recommendations

Info

JAZZ UJazz Goes to SchoolThe College Jazz SceneBy Frank MulvaneyJerseyArticlesJazzIn the span of 11 days my wife Kathy and I took inthree marvelous college jazz concerts as part of mynew duties as College Scene columnist. We wouldhave gone to them anyway. The only difference beingthat I had to take some notes.Rowan UniversityOn Friday, February 9, we made the 80-mile trek toRowan University for what turned out be a simplywonderful concert.The concert — dedicated to the late, great MaynardFerguson — featured three big student groups with twotop professionals playing with two of them. The WilsonHall Vintage Jazz Orchestra opened the show with fivetunes that were popular in the 1920s but have sinceslipped into obscurity. The 11-piece ensemble, whichincluded a piccolo and a violin, had that unmistakablydistinctive ’20s era sound. The lively, joyful music of thisgroup set the tone for the evening.Rowan’s much-heralded Lab Band took the stage next.This 16-piece ensemble includes a French horn,bassoon, tuba and vibes. This group was a big hit at lastyear’s IAJE conference with its wonderful unique sound.The band played a delicious smorgasbord of nine tunesincluding two excellent student compositions and anoriginal of Director Denis DiBlasio’s. “Chameleon”(Hancock), “Serenity,” “Birdland,” “Doxy,” “If You NeverCome to Me” (Jobim) and “Milestones”(Davis)completed the set.The guest professionals, trombonist Jim McFalls andtrumpeter Andrea Tofanelli, delivered fabulous solos onfour of the tunes. McFalls, a top freelance musician andeducator, has a beautiful mellow tone reminiscent ofTommy Dorsey. He’s played and recorded with a phonebook of well-known musicians. Tofanelli is known tobe the first-call trumpeter in Italy and is one of thoserare players who can make beautiful music at theextreme upper range of the instrument near the edgeof inaudibility. I’d be remiss if I failed to mention that2007 NJJS scholarship winner, Mark Przybylowski, didmuch masterful bass work on a bunch of tunes for bothof these first two groups.Like every great meal, dessert was saved for last, as the20-piece Rowan Jazz Band came on. The band has agreat big, clean, brass sound, and we were treated toseveral charts used by the Maynard Ferguson Band.including “Don’t Get Sassy” (Thad Jones),”GreenDolphin Street,” ”It Could Happen to You,” “People” and“MacArthur Park.” Tofanelli’s magnificent, searing soloson these last two brought visions of Maynard andsweaty eyeballs. The eight trumpets on “MacArthurPark” brought the house down, and the audience to itsfeet in appreciation for a glorious evening of jazz.William Paterson UniversityOn Sunday, February 18, we journeyed to WilliamPaterson in Wayne. The Cole Porter student ensembleopened the program with five of the composer’simmortal classics, including “Night and Day,” “So inLove” and “I Concentrate on You.” The quintet was ledby vocalist Katelyn Kenney who did a wonderful jobwith some tunes that even professional singers findchallenging.I must admit that I was not familiar with HoraceeArnold, the featured artist, and his quartet, but WOW,is he a fabulous drummer. The other members of thequartet are all top professionals with Buster Williamson bass, Marcus Strickland on tenor and the ubiquitousVic Juris on guitar. The set included four originals byArnold and the Mingus classic “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat.”The quartet was as cohesive an ensemble as could be,playing some extraordinarily complex rhythmiccompositions. The high level of virtuosity would beobvious to even a novice jazz fan.Note that the senior discount at WPU now beginsat age 60.Rutgers University—New BrunswickNext was a trip to The Nicholas Music Center atRutgers Campus to hear a free concert of the RUJazz Ensemble with guest artist Edward Simon onFebruary 20. This was another almost too good tobelieve concerts. I would need to invent some newlaudatory adjectives to do justice to this one.26April 2007 JerseyJazz
JerseyArticlesJazzThe first three numbers were astounding studentcompositions arranged for the 19-piece ensemble ofmostly graduate students, including three Jazz Societyscholarship recipients. Each tune was fairly long andrhythmically complex, providing technical challengesfor the most competent of players. “Sonority” byVincent Veneman is a big-sounding lyrical compositionthat’s a pleasure for the ear and featured a wonderfulbaritone sax solo by Gareth Bane (an NJJS scholar). Iwas especially impressed by a couple of beautifulinterludes of just flutes and flugelhorns. “On a BusyStreet” by Courtney Bryant is best described as avantgarde.This is an exceptionally complex work andarrangement that reminded me of some of AaronCopland’s early works. The lack of any discerniblemelody helped make for considerable challenges forthe players. Drummer Rudy Royston (an NJJS scholar)met the challenges head on and delivered someincredible fill and solo work. The virtuosity of the entireensemble was clearly demonstrated by the ability to playsuch a difficult piece so incredibly clean. The thirdstudent composition, “No More” by Dino Nugent, wastruly magnificent and some might label it a masterpiece.At least 10 minutes long, the piece has the feel of amusical journey with several changes in tempo andmode and effective use of forte crescendo. Essential tothe piece are two long beautiful solos for soprano saxand trombone. This is a work that begs to be heardmultiple times.The rest of the first half of the program was comprisedof two compositions by Edward Simon (with Mr. Simonsitting in on piano, and a remarkable player he is).Both tunes are fairly long, brassy and sophisticated withpulsating rhythm and an unmistakable Latin tinge.The second half of the program brought on Mr. Simon’sseptet to perform his “Venezuelan Suite,” a 40-minutemasterwork in four movements. The work incorporateselements of Venezuelan folk music, traditional Latin jazzand classical. Each of the exceptional musicians in thegroup had ample opportunity to demonstrate virtuosity,drawing continuous rounds of audience applause. I feltguilty about experiencing such an excellent concert atno cost. I would not have given a second thoughtabout shelling out NJPAC-level prices for such greatmusical art.JJCollege jazz music calendar for the remainder of the spring session:WILLIAM PATERSONUNIVERSITYApr. 27:Pianist Mulgrew Millerand WPU Jazz Orchestra4:00 PM, Shea Center$15 ($12 ).RUTGERS UNIVERSITY— NEW BRUNSWICKApr. 10:Frank Sinatra Jr. and JazzEnsemble, 8:00 PM,Nicholas Music Center,$40/$25/$15.Apr. 12:Jazz Ensemble II, 8:00 PM,Nicholas Music Center,FREE.Apr. 17:Chamber Jazz Ensembles1–6, 8:00 PM, SchareRecital Hall, FREE.Apr. 19:Chamber Jazz Ensembles7-11, 8:00 PM, SchareRecital Hall, FREE.PRINCETONUNIVERSITYMay 12:Princeton University JazzEnsemble & Afro-LatinEnsemble, special guestConrad Herwig, 8:00 PM,Richardson Auditorium,$15.ROWANUNIVERSITYApr. 10:Small Jazz Ensembles,8:00 PM, Boyd RecitalHall, FREE.Apr. 12:Lab Band and Big Band,8:00 PM, PfleegerConcert Hall, $15.NEW JERSEY CITYUNIVERSITYApr. 30:Jazz Ensembles & specialGuest Eddie Daniels,7:30 PM, MargaretWilliams Theatre, $12.May 3:Jazz Bash, 7:30 PM,Ingalls Recital Hall, $12.May 7:High School Jazz Festival,4:00 PM, MargaretWilliams Theatre, FREE.Check with the school for last minute changes. If you have any questions orcomments you may call me at 908-233-4824 or e-mail: fmulvaney@comcast.net.April 2007 JerseyJazz 27
Page 1 and 2: JerseyJazzJournal of the New Jersey
Page 3 and 4: New JerseyJazzSociety■ Once again
Page 5 and 6: TheCORNERSTONECafé and Bistro25 Ne
Page 7 and 8: SHANGHAIJAZZRestaurantand bar24 Mai
Page 9: JerseyArticlesJazzClassic Stine | R
Page 12 and 13: JerseyArticlesJazzJazzfest in the B
Page 14 and 15: a beautiful tone…a chance-taking
Page 16 and 17: JerseyArticlesJazzBig Band in the S
Page 18 and 19: JerseyArticlesJazzBIG BAND IN THE S
Page 20 and 21: JerseyArticlesJazzPeabody: A Jazz D
Page 22: JerseyArticlesJazz“My Technique T
Page 25: April 2007 JerseyJazz 25
Page 29 and 30: JerseyArticlesJazzKevin Dorn’s Tr
Page 31 and 32: Now available,a new book byTerence
Page 33 and 34: THE MUSIC IS ALWAYS HOT IN RAHWAYVi
Page 35 and 36: 85 George Street in New BrunswickAp
Page 37 and 38: April 2007 JerseyJazz 37
Page 39 and 40: Trumpets Jazz Club & Restaurant6 De
Page 51 and 52: New JerseyJazzSocietyWhat’s New?M
Page 53 and 54: JerseyEventsJazzNJJS members have e
Page 55 and 56: JerseyEventsJazzTell them you saw i

Jazzfest facts, hot off the press. - New Jersey Jazz Society

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?