Notice Board

Big Band Jazz Cravings Satisfied

Fresh off a tour to New Orleans, the birthplace of Jazz, the U of L Jazz Ensemble is releasing a CD and performing their favorite Big Band classics at 8 pm Friday, March 27 at the University Theatre.

“I guarantee this concert will satisfy your craving for the best of the best that Big Band jazz has to offer,” says Dr. Josh Davies, Director. “The group performs charts from greats that include Minnie Goodman, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Chick Corea, Stan Kenton, Dizzie Gillespie, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.”

“The group recently traveled to New Orleans to perform and work with seasoned jazz musicians and now we are eager to perform for our local audience,” says Davies. The evening also mark the release of the ensemble’s first CD entitled Critical Mass, which features repertoire from the 2014-2015 season.   The CD will be available for purchase at the performance.

The U of L Jazz Ensemble performs an eclectic mix of repertoire of contemporary and vintage big band jazz music. The band consists primarily of music majors as well as other interested students from a variety of disciplines. Each year the band performs several times, both on and off campus, and makes a point of performing for school audiences and conducting workshops with school groups whenever and wherever possible.

The band also enjoys collaborating with a wide variety of guest artists. In recent years, the band has shared the stage with former and present music faculty including George Burleigh, Dale Ketcheson, Joanne Hounsel, Patrice Jegou, and Adam Mason; school and community groups including the Lethbridge Big Band, LCI Vocal Jazz Choir; and a number of local high school jazz bands. Concerts have also featured several of Canada's top jazz musicians, most notably, alto saxophonist PJ Perry, trumpeter Don Clark, tenor saxophonist Pat Belliveau and trombonist Alastair Kay.

The U of L Jazz Combos regularly performs in southern Alberta at concerts, private functions and social events.  Please direct any questions regarding the U of L Jazz Ensemble to jazz@uleth.ca. 

Tickets for the Best of the Best Big Band Jazz Classics are available at the University Box Office or by calling (403) 329-2616. Tickets are $20 regular, $15 senior/alumni, $12 students. Tickets are also available online at ulethbridge.ca/tickets.

-30-