Department of Music

The UVA Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of John D'earth will present it's first concert of the academic year: The Art of the Big Band- Creative Gems of Jazz Composition on Saturday, November 23rd at 8pm in Old Cabell Hall. The Art of the Big Band - Creative Gems of Jazz Composition will include early masterpieces like Duke Ellington’s The Jeep is Jumpin’ and the Count Basie Band’s collective arrangement of Every Tub.  The emphasis will be on the great writing and arranging that has been inspired by the large musical ensemble known as the American Big Band.  Fables of Faubus and Boogie Stop Shuffle by Charles Mingus will be performed alongside arrangements by the great Thad Jones, standards, like Cherokee, and newer music by present-day arrangers like the passionate bossa nova, Duende by Rob Lussier, and Greg Yasinitsky’s epic treatment of the Dave Liebman classic, Piccadilly Lilly.

D‘earth is enthusiastic about his new band, which boasts a robust mix of new and returning members.   “I’m very excited about our soloists right now,” D’earth said..  All of our sax players are strong soloists.  We have two excellent tenor saxophonists, 1st year Matthew Smith, and 3rd year James Copeland, a strong player who has been developing very rapidly, two excellent alto sax soloists, newcomer Elliott Pillsbury and our veteran lead alto player, Bryan Grace, and one of our strongest soloists is 4th year Jack Irby on baritone sax.   Trumpeters Harrison Frye and Gabe Islambouli are also strong.  And our mainstay lead person on trumpet is 3rd year Lizzie Weaver.  She is the workhorse of our band!"

Two other featured soloists will be flutist Gina Sobel and trombonist Doug Bethel.  Both are community members and professional musicians who are donating their services to the UVA Jazz Ensemble as friends of the band.  “Doug Bethel is one of my oldest friend’s and a world-class trombonist, improvisor, and composer,” D’earth said.  “To have him in the bone section and to hear him solo turns each rehearsal into a master class for my students and for me.  And Gina Sobel, a newer friend and colleague, just sparkles on the flute!”

The UVA Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of trumpeter and composer John D’earth, has become one of the greatest in the University’s history. The group’s performances feature repertoire from across the spectrum of the history of Jazz.  Concerts include classic arrangements as well as a diverse arrangement of jazz pieces from both modern and classic composers and original compositions from within the band.

Trumpeter/composer John D'earth is the Director of Jazz Performance at the University of Virginia as well as the artist in residence at Virginia Commonwealth University. D’earth has recorded as a leader for Vanguard Records, ENJA Records, DoubleTime Jazz, and his own Cosmology label. He is a co-founder of the Free Bridge Quintet, the UVA faculty jazz quartet and leads the Charlottesville Swing Orchestra, the jazz/poetry project, and his own quartet/quintet. As the Director of Jazz Performance at the University of Virginia, he teaches improvisation, jazz trumpet, and directs the UVA Jazz Ensemble. D'earth has toured with Bruce Hornsby, recorded with Miles Davis/Quincy Jones and has written music for Dave Matthews, the Kronos String Quartet, assorted symphony orchestras, the UVA Jazz Ensemble as well as numerous other groups.

Giles Morris recently featured John D'earth in C-Ville Weekly.  Read the full story here http://bit.ly/dearth-cville.

Tickets are $10 for the general public, $5 for students and free for UVA Students who reserve 24 hours in advance.  Tickets can be purchased by contacting the Arts Box Office at 434.924.3376 or visiting www.artsboxoffice.virginia.edu

To find out more about Jazz events at UVA visit https://music.virginia.edu/jazz-events.

Old Cabell Hall is located on the south end of UVA's historic Lawn, directly opposite the Rotunda.  Parking is available in the Central Grounds Parking Garage, or in the lots off University Avenue at the University Corner.  Handicapped parking is available in the C1 parking lot or in designated spaces on McCormick Avenue.

For more information please call the McIntire Department of Music at 434.924.3052.