Back to News 
 |
 |
| Top: David Morgan, Bottom: Maddy Winer |
MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (Nov. 11, 2011)—Back by popular demand, the Milligan College Jazz Ensemble will present “Yuletide Jazz at Milligan College” on Monday, Dec. 5, at 7:30 p.m. at Milligan’s Mary B. Martin Auditorium in Seeger Memorial Chapel. The concert is free and open to the public.
The 22-piece jazz ensemble is under the direction of Rick Simerly, associate professor of music at Milligan.
“We have had so many requests to repeat Yuletide Jazz at Milligan College,” Simerly said. “This program will consist entirely of Christmas jazz. Although we are repeating a few selections from the last Yuletide concert, we also will be performing several new arrangements. Add to that our talented guest artists, and this will be a great evening of music.”
The concert will feature songs from the libraries of Rob McConnell, Gordon Goodwin, Tom Kubis, Diana Krall, John Clayton, Dave Wolpe, and arrangements written especially for the band by Bill Scott and Eddie Dalton.
Featured ensemble soloists include: Mark Thie and Lucas Schmidt, piano; Kyle Bothof, Ben Tiller and Aaron Hudnall, saxophone; Tylar Bouillon and Mike Boggs, trombone; Steven Cooper, Sloan Hill, Jacob Pitts, Shane Ladd and Tyler McElfresh, trumpet; Glenn Diamond, bass; and Eddie Dalton and Zach Nicol, drums.
The concert also will feature the talents of guest artists Maddy Winer on vocals and Dave Morgan on vibraphone.
Winer has enthralled audiences with her inimitable, recognizable voice over the past three decades. She attributes her successes to her love of the Great American Songbook, jazz standards and the pop music of her youth.
Born in New York City, Winer grew up surrounded by her large Italian family. Her parents had weekly family gatherings featuring a feast of food and non-stop music. “When I was a little girl there was always music in the house,” Winer said.
At the age of three she performed at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City. Once she experienced the thrill of stage performance, it became her lifelong passion.
Winer has headlined concerts at Lincoln Center in New York City, the Fountainbleau Hotel in Miami Beach, with the Saint Louis Symphony, the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts in Toronto and countless venues in between. Her opening act performances include Dave Brubeck, Lou Rawls, David Sanborn, Joe Sample & The Crusaders, George Shearing, Al Jarreau, Ellis Marsalis and a host of others who introduced her to a loyal following of music lovers from all genres.
In 1985 she met pianist/composer Loonis McGlohon and together they performed to standing ovations at Lincoln Center in New York City. She also was featured in presentations of “North Carolina Is My Home,” written by and starring McGlohon and Charles Kuralt.
Her latest CD release, “Heart to Heart,” features the great jazz pianist, Cyrus Chestnut, and drummer Bernard Purdie. For 30 years, Winer served as entertainment director at The Grove Park Inn in Asheville, N.C., and was a mainstay in the Great Hall with her band, Maddy and Masterpiece. Today, Winer makes her home in Asheville with her husband, Jay Winer, where she pursues her love of horseback riding.
Morgan has been a professional musician for 45 years. As a vocalist, drummer and vibraphonist, he has played many styles of music, including funk, jazz, Dixieland, country, rock and pop. He has studied with George Gaber, Joe LaBarbara, Joe Cusatis and Philly Joe Jones. He has performed with Bob Hope, Phil Harris, Guy Lombardo, Marvin Stamm, Randy Carmichael, Royce Campbell, Hodd O’Brien and internationally known pianist and composer Dick Hyman.
Additionally, Morgan has worked as a studio staff drummer doing jingle work as well as albums with Christian artist Sandy Patti, radio personalities Bob and Tom, and many others.
Morgan has played throughout the southeast and led his own group at the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia. He also has performed with the Bluefield State Big Band and Roanoke Jazz Orchestra and traveled with the Frankie Lester, Russ Morgan and Don Edwards orchestras.
Morgan has taught privately and has been a clinician in local colleges and public schools. He performed in the Bluemont Music Series and was a regular artist for the Highlands Jazz Festival, working with Lynn Roberts and the Blue Ridge Jazz Ensemble.
For the past decade, Morgan has worked the winter Florida circuit, playing the concert tours of Hopkins and Miller, as well as jobs with such musicians as Carl McVicker, bassist for Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, the Uptown Singers (Washington, D.C.), Kenny Drew Jr. and Lou Del Gatto. He has also played with the Naples Jazz Orchestra, the Leon Marion Big Band and Steinway piano artist, Ed Vodicka.
Morgan is featured on drums, vibes and vocals on his well-received debut CD, “Three D in Blue.”
“Dec. 5 will be a wonderful opportunity to hear these great guest artists and the Milligan College Jazz Ensemble perform familiar Christmas songs in jazz styles,” Simerly said. “We hope this concert is the start to everyone’s Christmas season and that everyone leaves with a little bit of Christmas spirit—in a jazzy sort of way.”
For more information, call the music office at 423.461.8723. To learn more about arts events at Milligan, visitwww.milligan.edu/arts.