Department of Music presents ASU Jazz Lab Band in concert April 8

April 1, 2008 -- Dr. E. Ron Horton, Arkansas State University’s director of jazz studies, would like to invite music fans ages 2 to 102 to Riceland Hall, Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Drive, Jonesboro, on Tuesday, April 8, at 7:30 p.m., for an evening of jazz that will truly groove, as the ASU Jazz Lab Band performs. The concert is free and open to the public.

“This concert is featuring some of the most infectious grooves that music has to offer,” said Horton.  “From beginning to end, this concert will have the audience moving in their seats, as we tackle some songs that are as wonderful today as when audiences first heard them. One of the more popular songs that we will be performing for this concert is Herbie Hancock’s “Cantaloupe Island.” This song was popularized only a few years ago when the rap group US3 sampled it in a song that received a great deal of radio play. As we perform the Mike Kamuf arrangement of this piece, our listeners will understand why this is such a timeless piece. We will also be playing a funk standard that was popularized by bassist Jaco Pastorius called “The Chicken,” with Jay Burns playing the role of Jaco. This piece also has  pretty heavy solos by several members of the band. We will also take our audience down to New Orleans as we perform “Crescent City Ramble,” a piece the makes use of the legendary second line feel that is so much a part of the musical history of that city.”

This concert will feature the Arkansas State University Jazz Lab Band.  “The ability of the musicians in this ensemble really shows how much talent we have here at ASU. This is the first time since I have taught here that the Lab Band will be featured on its own in concert, and we are very excited. Among the outstanding soloists that will be featured in this performance are Daidreon Clayton, who will be featured on a number of songs including “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” and Seulki Hong, who will be featured on “Blues For McCoy.”  This would be a great concert for those of you who wish to introduce your children to jazz with some fun, really accessible, music.”

The members of the Arkansas State University Jazz Lab Band are David Martin of Batesville, alto saxophone; Shirley Smith of West Memphis, alto saxophone; Daidreon Clayton of Jonesboro, tenor saxophone; Mike Newson of Memphis, tenor saxophone; Chris Moody of Jonesboro, baritone saxophone; Angela Guajardo of Marion, trumpet; Sarah DeClerk of Pocohantas, trumpet; Zac Adams of Jonesboro, trumpet; Antonio Starks of Jonesboro, trumpet; Brandon Avant of West Memphist, trombone; Lucas Edwards of Cabot, trombone; Jeremy Ramsey of Brinkley, trombone; Kyle Manley of Paragould, trombone; Seulki Hong of Korea, piano; Alyssa Fenner of Jonesboro, vibes; Jay Burns of Jonesboro, bass; Curtis Farley of Jonesboro, drums; and Bryan Elder of Jonesboro, drums.

For more details, please call the Music Department office at (870) 972-2094.

###