October 20, 2009
Purdue Jazz Band 'imports' hot jazz from Canada
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Although the "heat" from jazz music is usually associated with New Orleans' steamy French Quarter temperatures, the Purdue Jazz Band and Lab Jazz Band will demonstrate that "Even Canadians Get the Blues" at a Friday, Oct. 23 concert at Loeb Playhouse in the Purdue Stewart Center.Admission to the concert, which begins at 8 p.m., is free.
"When asked to think about contributors to the jazz lexicon, those by Canadian jazzers are rarely considered," says director M.T. "Mo" Trout.
The average jazz fan might remember the swing era classic "Canadian Sunset" or perhaps the "The Sweetest Music This Side of Heaven" as the music performed by Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadian Dance band in the 1930s was described.
"But there are many jazz musicians and jazz singers from north of the border who've made significant contributions to jazz of the modern era," Trout says. "One of the greatest jazz icons of the last half of the 20th century was the astounding trumpeter and band leader -- and Quebec native -- Maynard Ferguson."
A noted trumpet soloist in many big bands, most notably with Stan Kenton, Ferguson led his own big bands from the mid 1950s until his death in 2006. He was known for his ability "to keep the sound of the big band fresh for younger audiences throughout his career," Trout says. The Purdue Jazz Band will feature a composition that the Ferguson Band played throughout the 1970s-80s, "Nice and Juicy."
In the 1970s a big band from Canada was turning the heads of jazz lovers all over the world. Rob McConnell and his Boss Brass band featured music entirely written and arranged by McConnell and an entirely Canadian roster of musicians. McConnell was known for his solos on the jazz valve trombone. The Purdue Jazz Band will perform two of McConnell's compositions: "Tribute to Art Fern" and one of his newer works, the virtuoso band piece "Even Canadians Get the Blues," which gives the concert its title.
Many musicians from the contemporary jazz scene hail from Canada, including Paul Schaffer, the leader of the "David Letterman Show" band, and one of the most popular saxophone artists of today, David Sanborn. The Lab Band will perform a popular Sanborn hit "Snakes."
Two of the most popular jazz vocal artists today also hail from Canada, the talented vocalist/pianist Diana Krall and the exciting Michael Buble. The band and singers also will pay tribute to these great artists on the concert.
"Even Canadians Get the Blues" is sponsored by Purdue Bands & Orchestras. For a full list of free music events sponsored by Purdue visit www.purdue.edu/bands
Contact: Kathy Matter, 765-496-6785, kcmatter@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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