The concert will feature jazz trumpeter Bob Lark, chair of the jazz studies program at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. Also featured will be Southeasts Studio Jazz Ensemble and the Jazz Lab Band. Audiences will be regaled with big band jazz music, which traditionally includes saxophones, trumpets, trombones and a rhythm section.
Lark is an exclusive Yamaha Performing Artist. At DePaul University, he directs the universitys Jazz Ensemble and The Phil Woods Ensemble, and teaches jazz trumpet and courses in jazz pedagogy, jazz history and jazz style. Under his direction, The DePaul University Jazz Ensemble has received several Outstanding Performance Awards from the Jazz Educators Journal, Down Beat and Jazz Times magazines.
Lark has recorded albums with legendary jazz artists Phil Woods, Rufus Reid, Clark Terry, Louie Bellson, Bob Brookmeyer, Jim McNeely, Jeff Hamilton, Slide Hampton, Randy Brecker, Tom Harrell, Ira Sullivan, Mark Colby, Bobby Shew and Frank Wess.
The Studio Jazz Ensemble, led by Southeast Professor of Music Dr. Robert Conger, will perform the Hank Levy classic tune Decoupage and Told You So from the Count Basie library. Lark will join the band to perform Gil Evans take on the Leo Delibes classical aria entitled The Maids of Cadiz, which was written to feature a young Miles Davis. Lark will also join the ensemble in several originals, including Old School, Mad Dans and Bye Bye Blackbird.
Featured students in this ensemble include Steven Watkins (alto sax), Josh Whalen (tenor sax) Matt Flanagan (trombone), Jon Allgeyer (trumpet) and Dustin Haigler (piano).
The concert will close with the Jazz Lab Band, also under the direction of Conger. This band is comprised of both music and non-music majors and will be playing a variety of jazz compositions. Among the selections on their program will be Curtis Fullers Ala Mode and the classic chart Satin Doll. Lark will join this ensemble to perform the jazz ballad Cathys Song and a 12-bar blues entitled Reunion.
Tickets may be purchased by contacting the River Campus Box Office, located in the Cultural Arts Center, 518 S. Fountain St., weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or by calling (573) 651-2265, or by visiting www.RiverCampusEvents.com.