Jazz groups, Batucada joint performance is Nov. 21 at SMU
WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University jazz ensembles will join forces with the percussion ensemble Batucada Nossa Senhora for an evening of rhythmic jazz and unique ethnic sounds p.m. Friday, Nov. 21.
The joint concert, planned for 7:30 p.m. in Page Theatre, combines the talents of the 18-piece Jazz Ensemble and 12-member Batucada ensemble. The SMU Jazz Combo, featuring five student soloists, will also perform. Dr. John Paulson directs the jazz groups and Denny McGuire directs Batucada Nossa Senhora (translated as “percussion ensemble of our lady”).
The big band will feature the world premiere of Dr. Paulson’s “Drop Off Blues.” This piece stretches the boundaries of traditional blues arrangements by giving each section in the band a challenging “soli” part, as well as ample space for individual soloists. Also included in the jazz ensemble set will be a Basie-style ballad “Nice and Easy,” written and arranged by Jeff Taylor; “Carnival Del Sol,” a lively jazz samba by Dean Sorenson; Dizzy Gillespie’s famous “Manteca”; bebop trumpeter Lee Morgan's ever popular “Sidewinder”; and “Spring Cleaning” by Maynard Ferguson alumnus Matt Harris (featuring music faculty member Eric Heukeshoven on piano). Jazz Combo I will be performing A.C. Jobim’s well-known bossa nova “Triste” and Mongo Santamaria’s “Afro Blue.” The jazz groups will combine with the Batucada percussionists to ignite the rhythmic excitement of the concert’s Latin-jazz style pieces.
Student soloists in the jazz groups include: Twin Cities tenor saxophonist Ryan Ballanger; baritone saxophonist Ben Scott and trombonist Tom Briese, both from Rochester; and alto saxophonist Vanessa Grams of Little Falls.
Batucada Nossa Senhora will perform styles from the Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian traditions, as well as a drum medley from Ghana in West Africa.
Tickets are $10, $5 for students and seniors and are available at the SMU Box Office, (507) 457-1715 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays or online at www.pagetheatre.org. For more information on the event, contact Dr. Paulson at (507) 457-1596 or jpaulson@smumn.edu.
Next semester, Saint Mary’s will host a mini-residency with world-renowned saxophonist David Liebman. Watch for information on workshops and concerts planned for April 16-17, 2009. This project is funded by a grant from the Kaplan Foundation and the SMU Music Department.
