Fall jazz concerts to take place at Murray State University on Nov. 7
By Â×ĆŹÎŢÂëˇáÂúÎçŇš Public Relations | Oct 24, 2024
MURRAY, Ky. â The award-winning Murray State University Jazz Ensembles will present their fall Campus Concerts on Thursday, Nov. 7 in historic Lovett Auditorium. The Blue and Gold Jazz Combos program will begin at 6 p.m. followed by the Jazz Band and Jazz Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. The concerts are free and open to the public. Professor of Music Dr. Todd E. Hill is in his 19th year as director of jazz studies at Murray State, and directs all of the groups.
At 6 p.m., the Murray State Gold Jazz Combo will perform a collection of small group classics including Charlie Parkerâs âNowâs the Timeâ and âMy Little Suede Shoesâ along with Nat Adderleyâs âWork Song.â The Gold Combo has an unusual instrumentation that includes Macy Barron (trumpet) of Paris, Tennessee; Colton Vaught (alto sax) of Hartford, Kentucky; Cammy Pillow (baritone sax) of Evansville, Indiana; Sam LeMarble (baritone sax) of Murray, Kentucky; Noah Schneider (bass) of Madisonville, Kentucky; Caleb Dries (piano) of Louisville, Kentucky; and Eli Vowels (drums) of Henderson, Kentucky.
The Blue Jazz Combo will follow immediately with an advanced repertoire that includes âSeven Steps to Heavenâ and âMilestonesâ by Miles Davis, âYesterdaysâ by Jerome Kern, âTake the âAâ Trainâ by Billy Strayhorn, âJust Squeeze Meâ by Duke Ellington, and Weather Reportâs âHavonaâ by bassist Jaco Pastorius. Members of the Blue Combo are Bek Schmidt (trumpet) of Memphis, Tennessee; Dries and Chris Gissendaner (both alto sax) of Louisville, Kentucky; Declan Bingham (tenor sax) of Paducah, Kentucky; Gavin Jones (tenor sax) of Benton, Kentucky; Lydia Sahawneh (piano) of Paducah, Kentucky; Cody Trimmel (guitar) of Gilbertsville, Kentucky; Sean Howell (bass) of Mayfield, Kentucky; and Austin Kozuszek (drums) of Ashley, Illinois. Following the combos there will be a brief interval for setting up.
At 7:30, the Big Bands will take the stage. The Murray State Jazz Band will be performing a number of big band classics and standards including Bob Haggart and Ray Bauducâs âSouth Rampart Street Paradeâ featured with the Bob Crosby Band, Antonio Carlos Jobimâs âOne Note Samba,â Patti Bownâs composition âGâwon Trainâ that was featured by Quincy Jones, a Basie-styled version of Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercerâs âMoon River,â a 1970s rock hit by the Ides of March, âVehicle,â and a tribute to the recently passed Benny Golson on his âAlong Came Betty.â Members of the Murray State Jazz Band are saxophonists Ethan Sexton of Lexington, Kentucky, Hannah Nix and Sam LeMarble of Murray, Kentucky, Xander Slover of Cadiz, Kentucky, and Allison Dennison of Harrisburg, Illinois. Trumpets are Kaitlyn Microsh of Horn Lake, Mississippi, Wyatt Williams and Tim Hanley of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Maxxwell Stobaugh of Madisonville, Kentucky, Sara Archey and Nick Payton of Murray, Kentucky. Trombones are Bryson Barger of Murray, Kentucky, Benny Arvin of Crestwood, Kentucky, Cooper Barnet of Evansville, Indiana and bass trombone Ethan Pennycuick of Eureka, Missouri. Members of the rhythm section are pianist Frank Newton of Owensboro, Kentucky, guitarist Aiden Sexton of Murray, Kentucky, bassists Noah Siegfried of New Baden, Illinois and Norah Lucas of Louisville, Kentucky, Noah Schneider of Madisonville, Kentucky on vibes, and percussionists Maddie Beck of Mayfield, Kentucky and Devin Owens of Elizabethtown, Kentucky.
The Murray State Jazz Orchestra will close the program with a widely varied repertoire including Duke Ellingtonâs âCottontail,â Gordon Goodwinâs âHit the Ground Running,â Woody Hermanâs âCome Rain or Come Shine,â Bill Watrousâ âA Time for Love,â Med Floryâs Supersax version of âParkerâs Mood,â Lionel Hamptonâs âFlying Home,â Thad Jonesâ âBig Dipper,â and Stevie Wonderâs âHigher Ground.â Members of the Jazz Orchestra include saxophonists Caleb Dries and Chris Gissendaner of Louisville, Kentucky, Gavin Jones of Benton, Kentucky, Declan Bingham of Paducah, Kentucky, Nick Mehne and Cammy Pillow of Evansville, Indiana. Trumpets are Max Welch of Evansville, Indiana, Bek Schmidt of Memphis, Tennessee, Zack Mitchell of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Alyssa Schrader of Elizabethtown, Kentucky and Trent Browne of Nashville, Illinois. Trombones are Dillon Smith and Jeremiah Morris of Murray, Kentucky, Will Sheffer of Paducah, Kentucky and bass trombone Jared Chance-Martin of Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Rhythm section members are pianist Abbie Tompkins of Madisonville, Kentucky, guitarist Cody Trimmel of Mayfield, Kentucky, vibraphonist Zhou Merchant of Shelbyville, Kentucky, bassists Brianna Talty of Fishers, Indiana and Sean Howell of Mayfield, Kentucky and percussionists J.L. Cinotto of Shelbyville, Kentucky and Evan Carlton of Madisonville, Kentucky.
Under Hill's leadership, during the past 19 years the Murray State Jazz Orchestra has produced five album releases, performed by invitation four times at the famed Elmhurst College Jazz Festival (winning âOutstanding Big Bandâ along with a plethora of soloist awards) and the prestigious MidWest International Band Clinic in Chicago. The Jazz Orchestra has performed by invitation at the Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA) Conference as a featured group for the state's music teachers a record five times since 2006. Hill was awarded KMEAâs âOutstanding University Professorâ of the year in 2016.