October 31, 2006 - The Department of Music at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro will present the Jazz Lab Band and ASU Tribe in their second concert on Monday, Nov. 13, at 7:30 p.m. in Fowler Center, Riceland Hall.

The ASU Jazz Bands are under the direction of new ASU faculty member, E. Ron Horton. This concert will feature a wide variety of pieces from classic swing era arrangements like “Little Brown Jug”, made famous by Glenn Miller, to a big band arrangement of Freddie Hubbard’s fusion classic “Red Clay.”

This concert will again have performances by both bands, but Monday evening’s performance will feature the Jazz Lab Band for the entire first half. Among the songs that they will be perform will be “The Kid from Red Bank,” a song that comes from the library of the William “Count” Basie Orchestra. This piece will feature pianist Willie Sullivan. The Lab Band will also feature bassist Tonia “Topsy” Spurlock as she tackles Jaco Pastorious’ solo on fusion standard “Birdland.” This song, written by Pastorius and first performed by legendary jazz fusion group Weather Report, will give the audience a chance to hear the versatility of Jay Burns, who will cover styles from swing to rock on electric guitar and enjoy the playing of talented tenor saxophonist Lauren Smith. The first half of the concert will also feature drummer/vocalist Perry Harper as he fronts the band on Thelonious Monk’s “Round Midnight.”

The second half of the evening promises to be equally exciting, featuring the Tribe and opening with Chic Corea’s “La Fiesta.” The band will also play a new treatment of another jazz standard, Bob Mintzer’s version of Count Basie’s “One O’clock Jump.” The second half will also feature an arrangement of “Yesterdays” from the library of Stan Kenton. This Bill Holman arrangement is for written the “jazz orchestra” in the truest sense of the phrase, extracting tonal colors from the band in a way that shows listeners why all lovers of big band should get to know the music of Stan Kenton. The Tribe will also feature its director, E. Ron Horton, on a swinging blues titled Cookin.’ The evening will close with Duke Ellington’s “Caravan,” but don’t expect the classic treatment of this jazz standard. Instead, the band will perform an arrangement based on the version performed by R&B powerhouse, Chicago.   “We are all excited about Monday’s concert and we hope that you will join us,” says Horton.

Members of the ASU Jazz Lab Band are Allen Adcock of Jonesboro, Ashley Flory of Cherokee Village, alto saxophone; Lauren Smith of Jonesboro, tenor saxophone; Nichole Burdyshaw of Bono, baritone saxophone; Treavor Mitchell, Kade Holliday, Jeremy Ramsey all of Jonesboro, trombone; Antonio Starks of Jonesboro, Angela Guajardo of Marion, Will Hartzel of Forrest City, trumpet; Willie Sullivan of Jonesboro, piano; Douglas Turner bass and trumpet and Tonia Spurlock, bass both of Highland; Perry Harper of Paragould, Jason Wagner of Jonesboro, drums; Jay Burns of Jonesboro, guitar.

Members of the ASU Tribe are Claire Richardson of Jonesboro and Michael Newson of Memphis, Tenn., alto saxophone; Daniel Rickman and Allen Adcock both of Jonesboro, tenor saxophone; Adam Leslie of Jonesboro, baritone saxophone; Corey Emerson of Poplar Bluff, Mo., Blake Howerton of Paragould, Matt Strawbridge of Jonesboro, trombone; Corey Spencer of Wynne, bass trombone; Luke Walker and Sara DeClerk both of Pocahontas, Joseph Curtis of Trumann, Grant W. Harbison of Jonesboro, trumpet; Janet Rooney of Trumann, piano and vibes; Maricio Dixon of Wynne, piano; Kevin Cremeens of Jonesboro, bass; Curtis Farley of Jonesboro, Jamel Alford of East St. Louis, Ill., drums.

The concert is free and open to the public. For more details, please call the Department of Music at 870-972-2094.