Conference Coverage Home • Conference Information • Conference Schedule of Events • Artist List • Artist Biographies • Conference Registration [pdf]
|
Friday, May 23 – 10:00pm
John Irish, reporter The Dimensions in Blue Jazz Ensemble lit up the night with driving, hot jazz. Add trumpet great, Carl Saunders to the mix and the combination was truly combustible. The group, part of the US Air Force Band of the West from San Antonio, is one of the finest jazz ensembles in the service today. Chick Corea’s La Fiesta, as written for the Woody Herman Band, opened the concert and set the blistering pace from which the evening unfolded. Top-notch soloists, tight ensemble playing, and a sterling rhythm section are attributes one must use to describe this excellent band. The ensemble’s new vocalist, Crissy Saalborn, was featured in an up-tempo version of “Lover Come Back to Me.” As a change of pace, many of Stan Kenton’s top groundbreaking hits were melded into a medley entitled Kenton Kollage. The innovative sounds of genius big band writing, as arranged by Bob Curnow, were rekindled in this Kenton collection.
The phenomenal jazz trumpeter, Carl Saunders was introduced and joined the band with an original piece by Herbie Phillips, Perceptive Hindsight. This medium swing tune was a vehicle for Saunders’ creative, virtuosic jazz playing. His lines are always original, exciting, and offer great variety. Growing up in a family strongly connected with the jazz scene, one can tell he’s easily at home in this music. The beautiful standard What’s New received a colorful, lush performance; starting off as a ballad, it moved into a double-time section comfortably raising the intensity level. Saunders covered the trumpet’s whole spectrum on the closing cadenza. Count Bubba, by Gordon Goodwin, put the spotlight on the band’s horn sections with each playing a chorus without rhythm accompaniment. A soaring trumpet solo and recaps of the horn soli brought the piece to a powerful close. The band’s male vocalist, Richard Vasquez sang the Mercer/Arlen classic, Come Rain or Come Shine in a hauntingly delightful arrangement by the band’s Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge and Musical Director, Don Marchand. Introduction of all the band’s members helped create a strong rapport between the band and audience. It was followed by Rodgers and Hart’s classic song, Blue Moon, as arranged by Eric Richards. Saalborn’s singing—including a scat chorus—was a hit!
Saunders joined the Dimensions in Blue in another Gordon Goodwin tune, Sing Sang Sung, a take-off of the popular Benny Goodman hit, Sing Sing Sing. Getting all over the horn in the featured trumpet solo, Saunders also helped fire up the final shout chorus bringing the piece to an electrifying close. Secret Love, in an impressive up-tempo arrangement by Jack Kortner, offered blazing solos and flying fingers from all the band members. Saunders smoked the solo line with incredible playing culminating in a cadenza that brought the audience to its feet. Saunders summed up the band succinctly: “Tight, clean, and mean.” In view of the audience he was also sure to warmly acknowledge the band’s great trumpet section. Late night jazz with a great band and one of the finest soloists around was an exciting way to end another great day of music. Fabulous! |
Trumpet Prelude: Murray State University Trumpet Ensemble Sonata “Sancti Polycarpi” for 8 trumpets, timpani & continuo - H.I.F. Biber (1644-1704) Fantasy for Trumpets - John Steffa (b. 1947) Members: Program: La Fiesta by Chick Corea arr. Tony Klatka Dimension in Blues Jazz Ensemble:
|
