U-M Jazz Fest with Basie Band
he
University of Michigan will hold its 2002 Jazz Festival
on February 15 with the Count Basie Orchestra, directed by Grover Mitchell,
in residence. This is a noncompetitive event allowing collegiate and
high school music students and their educators the opportunity to interact
with the Basie Orchestra, as well as with the U-M music faculty (Ellen
Rowe, Donald Walden, Dennis Wilson, David Jackson, Carol Richardson,
Dean Karen Wolff and others). Governor John Engler has declared the
date "Duke Ellington Day" as 32 school jazz band from across
the state, including the upper peninsula, converge to celebrate the
legacy of one of the most prolific American jazz artists.
The Basie Band will play a concert and also present
instrumental and vocal clinics. The feature concert takes place at the
Power Center at 8 p.m. On the program is Ellington's "Night
Creature," which also will feature the University Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Kenneth Kiesler. National Public Radio's JazzSet with
Dee Dee Bridgewater will record the concert for national broadcast in
May. The opening act is the U-M Jazz Ensemble directed by Ellen Rowe,
which starts at 7:25 p.m. Tickets are available at the door or in advance
by calling 734-754-2538.
At 2 p.m. there will be a lecture on "Ellington
on Basie" in the Koessler Room of the Michigan League. The U-M
Jazz Lab Ensemble, directed by trombonist and Basie alum Dennis Wilson,
will play at 4:05 in the Power Center with guest soloists Shelly Berg
and Greg Carroll. To participate in workshops please call 734-615-4104.
You can also email for more
information.
Wilson told SEMJA, "I am very excited about
the Festival. It is serving our students and community with unique musical
situations. However, I'm most excited about the bigger picture
that is in the future. I see the future of this event as being one that
truly serves the world of jazz. I'm very happy that the U-M jazz
faculty, Dean of the School of Music and other administrators share
this vision. This is only the first of many collaborations with the
Count Basie Orchestra."
I N - T H I S - I S S U E :
1. RECORD REVIEWS 2. U-M JAZZ
FEST
3. WEMU PROGRAMMING 4. NEW
YEARS EVE
5. NOZERO / MICHAELS 6. SEMJA
CHRISTMAS
7. BOPO CUTS 8. BARRY
HARRIS
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