HSU Jazz Orchestra plays five kinds of blues and the Symphonic Band exudes Mother Earth energy in their shared concert on Saturday October 10 at Fulkerson Recital Hall.
“The 12-bar blues chord progression is the most commonly used in American music,” said Jazz Orchestra director Dan Aldag. “ Jazz musicians have come up with many different variations on the basic framework. We’ll play five of those.”
Oliver Nelson’s “Hoedown” is from his classic album “The Blues and the Abstract Truth.” Jazz Orchestra member Ryan Woempner contributes “Colie’s Blues,” an original soul-jazz variation, while bandmate Kyle McInnis arranges a Miles Davis standard.
Latin jazz pioneer Mario Bauza and Afro-Cuban music composer Michael Phillip Mossman provide another variation on the blues theme, while Phil Wilson’s tune for the Buddy Rich band returns to the traditional form in the aptly titled “Basically Blues.”
In its half of the program, the HSU Symphonic Band begins with the high energy “Mother Earth: A Fanfare” by contemporary American composer David Maslanka, inspired by words from St. Francis of Assisi.
“Nitro” by prominent band composer Frank Ticheli celebrates nitrogen, “the most abundant component of the Earth’s atmosphere” that is present in every living thing. “It’s bright, festive, fast and exciting,” said Symphonic Band director Paul Cummings, “but it’s also full of rapid time changes.”
“Sheltering Sky” by John Mackey is a slower contemplative piece with evocative hints of folk song melodies. Also on the program are the Earl of Oxford March by 16th century British composer William Byrd, and “Don Ricardo” by Gabriel Musella, based on traditional Spanish dance rhythms.
HSU Jazz Orchestra and Symphonic Band perform on Saturday October 10 at 8 p.m. in Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus. Tickets are $8, $5 seniors and children, free to HSU students with ID, from HSU Box Office (826-3928) or at the door. Produced by HSU Music department.
Media: Times-Standard Urge, Mad River Union
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