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Tuesday, June 15 Saxophones: Pete Lewis - alto, Clare Church - alto, Peter Sommer - tenor, Eric McGregor - tenor Jerry Noonan - bari
John Irish, Reporter A laid-back rendition of When You’re Smiling, as arranged by Tom Kubis, opened the concert. Don Menza’s Groovin Hard, a hard-driving tune was up next. It featured Pete Olstad in a blistering solo, not to mention equally hot trombone and alto sax solos. The sax section tutti toward the end of the song offered yet another glimpse of the virtuosity of this band. Bravo! Frank Mantooth’s arrangement of Young and Foolish began with a moving introduction by solo piano later joined by the bass and drums. Olstad soared over the band with his brilliant melodious sound to bring the piece to its close.
Vince DiMartino was featured guest artist with the band in a modern treatment of the famous Trumpet Tune of Henry Purcell as arranged by Edgar Crockett. Dimartino’s incredible jazz improvisation, virtuosity, range, and style were a tremendous hit with the appreciative audience. Kenny Dorham’s Blue Bossa was a great vehicle to show off many members of the band along with more stunning playing from DiMartino. In this arrangement creative counter-melodies balanced quite well with the main tune. Dizzy Gillespie’s A Night in Tunisia closed out his set. Strong, energetic playing from all involved electrified the audience. The concert continued with Al Hood featured in a hauntingly beautiful piece, Theme Without a Movie, by Tom Kubis. In this ballad, Hood displayed a marvelous sense of broad, powerful lyricism…our conference host showed he was in top form.
Scott Wendholt, one of Colorado’s favorite sons but one of New York’s top jazz trumpeters, was featured next in an incredibly fluid solo. Wendholt ripped through the up-tempo Eye of the Hurricane with amazing assurance. His next piece, Thad Jones’ Evol Deklaw In began with Wendholt soling in tutti with the saxophones. This selection featured Wendholt’s effortless virtuosity. Herbie Hancock’s One Finger Snap, a fast-moving tour de force for the guest soloist, was further evidence of an impressive outing for the band and the great talent of Wendholt. Colorado’s other favorite son—and also very active in the New York scene—Greg Gisbert was the next special guest. He opened with Blue Mitchell’s Blue Silver playing all over the trumpet in a fiery, explosive display. Maria Schneider’s clever arrangement of the ballad, My Ideal set the tone for a now dreamy, now propulsive performance by Gisbert. Colorful combinations of instruments, a jazz-waltz, and a highly introspective closing made for a wonderful chart further highlighted by Gisbert’s exhilarating performance.
All three guests joined the band for the final number of the night. Thad Jones’ blues tune, Second Race, was the piece chosen for the evening’s closer. One needs not to bother with comparisons and contrasts of these three artists but rather simply enjoy the incredible amount of talent offered by both the band and soloists as they traded choruses. This was one very torrid night of trumpet stars and hot big band jazz. Tonight’s opening jazz concert set the pace for what will prove to be another exciting week of great music. Here’s to more coffee, less sleep, and the enjoyment of soaking up as much trumpet as one can. |
Prelude Members: Suite for Trumpets - Ronald LoPresti View From Pikes, for Eight Trumpets - Denis DiBlasio |
