Department of Music to present Tribe, Jazz Lab Bands

April 3, 2007 -- The Department of Music at Arkansas State University presents the Tribe Jazz Band and the Jazz Lab Band in concert, Sunday, April 15, at 3 p.m., in Riceland Hall, Fowler Center. The concert will feature a variety of different pieces from familiar Big Band and jazz composers as well as selections from talented, albeit less well-known, composers and artists. The first half of the concert will feature the Jazz Lab band, whose selections offer variety and excitement. They will perform Duke Ellington’s version of Earle Hagen’s “Harlem Nocturne,” one of the pieces that shaped the jazz genre. Ellington manipulated music in a way that has set a standard far all composers who followed him, and Ellington will not be the only jazz master who is featured in this portion of the program. The Lab Band will also perform Miles Davis’s “Four” and Horace Silver’s “Song For My Father.” 

The concert’s second half will feature the Tribe Jazz band and will include pieces by composers Bob Brookmeyer, Toshiko Akioshi, and Thad Jones.  These three composers have extended the traditions of Big Band jazz. Each composer has put his unique stamp on the genre. In addition to Bookmeyer, Akioshi, and Jones, Sunday afternoon’s concert will also feature composers who are connected with Jonesboro—Rob Alley, adjunct faculty in ASU’s department of music, who has performed with the Tuscaloosa Horns and several orchestras, and Dr. Larry Smithee, ASU graduate, former artist in residence at Mississippi County Community College, and former trumpeter with the rhythm and blues group, Louisiana Purchase. “There is a huge amount of talent in the area, and we are excited to be able to put it on display” says Ron Horton, director of the bands.

Members of the ASU Jazz Lab Band are Ashley Flory of Cherokee Village and David Martin of Batesville, alto saxophone; Katrinka Musumbi and Shirley Smith of Jonesboro, tenor saxophone; Adam Leslie of Jonesboro, baritone saxophone; Treavor Mitchell, Kade Holliday, and  Jeremy Ramsey, all of Jonesboro, and Corey Spencer of Wynne, trombone; Will Hartzel of Forrest City, Antonio Starks of Jonesboro, Angela Guajardo of Marion, Sarah DeClerk of Pocahontas, Peter Davis of Jonesboro, trumpet; Douglas Turner and Tonia Spurlock, both of Highland, bass; Janet Rooney of Trumann, drums; Jay Burns of Jonesboro, guitar; Alyssa Fenner of Jonesboro, vibraphone.

Members of the ASU Tribe are Claire Richardson of Jonesboro and Michael Newson of Memphis, TN, alto saxophone; Daniel Rickman and Allen Adcock, both of Jonesboro, tenor saxophone; Nichole Burdyshaw of Bono, baritone saxophone; Corey Emerson of Poplar Bluff, Mo., Blake Howerton of Paragould, Matt Strawbridge of Jonesboro, trombone; Jason Payne of Jonesboro, bass trombone; Luke Walker of Pocahontas, Kate Puckett of Jonesboro, 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; Perry Harper of Paragould, vocals and drums; 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.

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