Jazz Bands Will 'Swing into Spring' with Concert, April 12
JONESBORO – The Department of Music at Arkansas State University will present the sixth annual “Swing Into Spring” concert featuring the A-State Jazz Orchestra and Lab Band on Thursday, April 12, at 7:30 p.m. in Fowler Center’s Riceland Hall.
This year’s season-ending concert by A-State Jazz Studies runs the gamut from period dance band works to exciting fresh sounds of today’s jazz.
Lab Band will open the concert with a set including two arrangements by Tom O’Connor: “Footprints” by Wayne Shorter and “Lil Sunflower” by Freddie Hubbard. In addition, the Lab Band will play “Yankee Doodle,” arranged for the band by Chris Ott of the Huntertones, and “Picadillo,” a Latin piece arranged by Michael Medrick.
The Jazz Orchestra will present the original Mike McGowan tune “Catdaddy’s Lullaby” to open the set, followed by the Mike Tomaro arrangement of Chick Corea’s “Armando’s Rumba.”
The Orchestra will premiere a great new work written for the group by Michael Medrick. The traditional swing piece features a 1950s feel, with flute and tenor saxophone solos.
The Irving Berlin classic “Blue Skies” gets a modern make over in the hands of arranger Medrick. The concert closes with an encore performance of a band favorite, “Jody Grind” arranged by John Clayton for the Clayton-Hamilton Big Band.
Dr. Ken Carroll, director of A-State Jazz Studies, said "Remember, April is National Jazz Appreciation Month: jazz is America’s music. Come out to the family event, enjoy an evening of exciting music, and support your country’s most important export: jazz."
Admission is free for A-State students, and $5 for the public. For tickets, call the A-State Box Office (870) 972-2781.
For more information about this concert or any other A-State music event, contact the Music Department at (870) 972-2094.
# # #
