Jazz Ensemble, Autumnal Derangement

November 12, 2010 - 8:00pm
  • Friday, November 12, 2010
  • Old Cabell Hall
  • 8:00 p.m.
  • $10 Adults / $5 Students / Free for UVa students (if reserved in advance)

 

UVA Jazz Ensemble

The McIntire Department of Music presents the UVA Jazz Ensemble under the direction of trumpeter John D’earth on Friday, November 12th at 8pm in Old Cabell Hall.

Visitations from the animal kingdom will mark the first concert of the UVA Jazz Ensemble’s 2010/11 season. The concert is subtitled Autumnal Derangement, A Weasel, and A Bear. The bear is Jack the Bear, a 1930’s jazz classic composed by Duke Ellington for bass virtuoso Jimmy Blanton. This solo piece features the upright bass and will be performed by third year bassist Chris Muir. The weasel arrives courtesy of Australian exchange student and tenor saxophonist Terry McLeod. The Jazz Ensemble will perform his new composition, The Evil Weasel, a funk extravaganza in 7/4 time, which Mr. McLeod has been developing and reworking in close collaboration with the band throughout the semester. The evening will feature other classic charts like Slide’s Derangement, by trombonist Slide Hampton and Thad Jones’ Don’t Git Sassy. “These have to be two of the most swinging and well-composed examples of big band writing ever.” remarks Jazz Ensemble director John D’earth. He goes on to say that the purpose of this opening concert is to showcase, “just the band, without guests, and play some bedrock big band jazz, with an emphasis on the ensemble as a whole. We have a mix of newer and older members and a strong rhythmic foundation in drummer Jack Kilby and bassist Chris Muir. They’ve been working together for a few years, now, and are developing a real partnership. The sax section, led by Danna Thomas, the trombones, led by Cameron Williams, and the trumpets, led by Jason Wang and Ian Lamb, are all developing cohesion and a strong collective voice.” Also on the program are Dizzy Gillespie’s Con Alma, Isfahan, by Billy Strayhorn, Haitian Fight Song, by Charles Mingus (featuring flautists Ellen Reifler and Joo Oh,) Nutville, by Horace Silver, and Bob Mintzer’s inspired arrangement of Herbie Hancock’s Dolphin Dance.

The UVA Jazz Ensemble presents three concerts each academic year with the spring concert generally being reserved for an international guest artist. This winter, their concert on Saturday, February 26th will be a special event premiering a new composition by D’earth for the Jazz Ensemble and the Free Bridge Quintet, who will appear as the featured guest artists for the entire evening. The Free Bridge Quintet is the faculty jazz quintet at the University. The new piece, made possible by the James Dunton Gift to the McIntire Department of Music’s Jazz Performance Program, is in three parts and will pair the Free Bridge Quintet members with their most accomplished students in a kind of Concerto Grosso for double rhythm section and large jazz ensemble. The piece is being designed to heighten the collaborative and creative energies between student and teacher. The members of Free Bridge will also be featured individually on the first half of the concert.

Tickets for the concert on Friday, November 12th are $10 for Adults $5 for Students and free for UVa students who reserve their seats in advance. Tickets can be purchased on line at www.artsboxoffice.virginia.edu or by calling the Arts Box Office at 434.924.3376. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door.

 

Arts Box Office: (434) 924-3376

Address

UVA Department of Music
112 Old Cabell Hall
P.O. Box 400176 Charlottesville, VA 22904-4176

Email: music@virginia.edu