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MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (April 10, 2012) — The Milligan College Jazz Ensemble will present a spring concert on Monday, April 23, at 7:30 p.m. in Milligan’s Mary B. Martin Auditorium in Seeger Memorial Chapel. The concert is free and open to the public.
The 23-piece ensemble is under the direction of Rick Simerly, associate professor of music at Milligan.
“This concert will showcase our ensemble and its members on solo improvisations,” Simerly said. “Many of our concerts feature guest artists, and I thought this concert would be a good time to exclusively feature our group and the fine musicians in it.”
The ensemble consists of Milligan students, as well as students and adults from throughout the region. They will be performing a variety of songs from the libraries of some of the great jazz composers of our time.
“Our selections encompass a variety of styles from New Orleans traditional to modal jazz,” Simerly said. “It’s impossible to list all the featured soloists because we have a quite a few of them in this concert.”
Selections will include “North Africa” by Chick Corea, Duke Ellington’s “Cottontail,” the Woody Herman version of “Fanfare for the Common Man,” and Jimmy Heath’s “Gingerbread Boy.”
Tenor saxophonist Kyle Bothof is featured on Slide Hampton’s “Frame for the Blues,” and a special arrangement of “Makin’ Whoopee” will feature bass trombonist John Hyatt. Drummer Eddie Dalton arranged the Miles Davis classic “So What” especially for the ensemble.
“These are arrangements of classic jazz selections that are significant compositions as well as great vehicles of improvisation,” Simerly said. “We always look forward to performing for the very supportive crowds from Milligan and our community.”
For more information, call the music office at 423.461.8723. To learn more about arts events at Milligan, visitwww.milligan.edu/arts.