Jazz Ensemble To Play Feb. 29

by Richard Veit

Baylor University's Jazz Ensemble I will present the first of its two spring semester concerts at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 29, in Jones Concert Hall. Jazz Ensemble I performs under the direction of Benjamin Irom, lecturer in jazz studies at Baylor. The concert also will feature an appearance by the Temple Jazz Orchestra, led by Tom Fairlie.
The program will open with a set by the Temple Jazz Orchestra. The group will play Jelly Roll Morton's "King Porter Stomp," Thad Jones's "Us," Don Sebesky's arrangement of "Danny Boy" and "Blues and the Abscessed Tooth" by Matt Catingub.
Jazz Ensemble I's portion of the concert will begin with Charley Gray's arrangement of the Harold Arlen standard, "It's Only a Paper Moon." Also to be heard will be "Calypsoscope" by Matt Harris, "Wyrgly" by Maria Schneider and the Rusty Dedrick setting of Duke Ellington's "Prelude to a Kiss."
One of Irom's own compositions, "A Nod to Cee-Cee," will feature Michelle Acton on alto sax, Eli González on tenor sax and Cash Coleman on guitar.
The concert will conclude with "The Quintessence" by Quincy Jones and Don Menza's "Time Check."
This concert is free and open to the public. For more information, call the Baylor School of Music at 710-3991.