Cal Poly Humboldt Jazz Orchestra at Fulkerson Recital Hall December 10th

Press release from Cal Poly Humboldt:

The Department of Dance, Music, and Theatre at Cal Poly Humboldt presents the Cal Poly Humboldt Jazz Orchestra. Join us Saturday, December 10th at 8:00 p.m. at the Fulkerson Recital Hall. Concert tickets are $10 General, $5 Children, and FREE for Cal Poly Humboldt students with ID. Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance at centerarts.humboldt.edu

Professor Dan Aldag, director of the Jazz Orchestra, speaks about the performance, “The big piece we’re playing is Kenny Wheeler’s Sweet Time Suite from his landmark 1990 album Music For Large & Small Ensembles. Wheeler was a Canadian-born trumpeter, flugelhornist and composer who spent most of his career in England. As a result, Wheeler is not nearly as well-known in the U.S. as he should be, but he is recognized by knowledgeable jazz musicians and fans as one of the most significant composers of the past 50+ years.

The eight-movement Sweet Time Suite is considered one of his most ambitious and successful works, but has rarely been performed, as a performance edition has only just become available. One unusual aspect of the Suite is Wheeler’s use of the human voice as an instrumental color. The vocalist is featured a couple of times, but is mostly heard singing wordlessly as a part of the ensemble. One of the Jazz Orchestra’s saxophonists, Raili Makela, will put down her sax to sing the vocal part on the Suite. Wheeler’s flugelhorn parts and solos will be played by Cal Poly Humboldt student Andrew Henderson. The Suite will also feature solos from alto saxophonist Danyelle Allen, tenor saxophonists Ricardo Paredes and Mathias Severn, trombonist George Epperson, guitarist Nick De Anda, pianist John Gerving, bassist Hank Van Konigsveld, and drummer Travis Strong.

After playing the Sweet Time Suite, the Jazz Orchestra will play a short second half featuring three tunes, Lunceford Special, Honeysuckle Rose, and Atchafalaya. Lunceford Special was recorded by the Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra in 1939. Lunceford is little-remembered today, but his orchestra was one of the top Black big bands of the Swing Era, behind only Duke Ellington’s and Count Basie’s. Lunceford Special was written by the trombonist, guitarist, and composer/arranger Eddie Durham. The Jazz Orchestra will play a transcription of the original recording.

Honeysuckle Rose is one of Fats Waller’s most famous songs and has been recorded by a huge number of performers. The Jazz Orchestra will play the arrangement written by Bill Holman for the Tonight Show band of the 1970s and 1980s under the direction of Doc Severinsen. It will feature trumpeter Andrew Henderson and tenor saxophonist Ricardo Paredes.

Atchafalaya is named for a swamp in Louisiana that is the largest wetlands in the United States. It was composed by Michael League and first recorded by his band Snarky Puppy on their collaboration with the Netherlands’ Metropole Orkest, the album Sylva. The Jazz Orchestra is playing an arrangement by Ben Aldag which will feature a number of soloists, including Cal Poly Humboldt faculty member Brian Post on the Hammond B-3 organ.”

Proof of COVID vaccination and booster are still required for all guests on campus. At press time, the wearing of facemasks is not mandatory, but it is strongly encouraged.

Date: Saturday, December 10th, 2022

Time: 8:00 p.m.

Location: Fulkerson Recital Hall, Cal Poly Humboldt, Arcata CA 95521

Price:  $10 General, $5 Child, and FREE for Cal Poly Humboldt students with ID

Ticket Purchase: centerarts.humboldt.edu

Contact For tickets: 707-826-3928

Livestream Link: To watch the free livestream, go to the website “All Events” drop down menu, select “Department of Dance, Music, and Theatre” and select your event or use this link

https://youtu.be/-GHmoZztAJw

Contact: Cal Poly Humboldt School of Dance, Music, and Theatre, 707-826-3566, [email protected]