The SUU Jazz Band presents “Ya Gotta Try,” directed by Dr. Thomas Herb. The concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17, in the Sharwan Smith Center’s Living Room. The concert is free and open to the public.
Each year, this free concert draws hundreds of jazz fans of all ages. The evening’s program includes selections from big band to swinging jazz vocal arrangements based on charts created for music legends. The performance will feature Sammy Nestico’s “Ya Gotta Try” in an arrangement made famous by Buddy Rich. The concert also includes Neal Hefti’s “Cute” in an arrangement by Bob Mintzer, Cole Porter’s “From This Moment On” originally arranged by the Buddy Bregman Orchestra for Ella Fitzgerald, “That’s All” by Alan Brandt and Bob Haymes, Thad Jones’ “Ahunk, Ahunk” in an arrangement used by Mel Lewis and the Thad Jones Big Band, Wayne Shorter’s “Infant Eyes” arranged by Scott Arcangel, and Count Basie’s classic “One O’Clock Jump.”
Over the past several years, the SUU Jazz Band has performed arrangements by many well-known musicians such as Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Duke Ellington, Maria Schneider, Woody Herman, Buddy Rich, Bob Mintzer, Gordon Goodwin, Pat Metheny, and many others. The centerpiece of SUU’s jazz program is the annual guest artist concerts, which bring professional jazz musicians to Cedar City. Past guest artists who have worked with the jazz band include Pete Christlieb, Tom Polett, Reggie Thomas, Rodney Whitaker, Dennis Mackrel, Wayne Bergeron, Bob Sheppard, Denis DiBlasio, and Delfeayo Marsalis. For the spring 2016 guest artist concert, Dr. Herb is pleased to announce that acclaimed trumpet player Roger Ingram will be performing with the jazz band. This opportunity gives students experience with professional players with whom they would not have a chance to perform otherwise.
For more information on the SUU College of Performing and Visual Arts events, please visit suu.edu/pva/arts.
