Jazz Ensemble and New Vocal Jazz Ensemble to Perform

March 19, 2015

The Illinois Wesleyan School of Music will present a concert featuring the debut of the new vocal jazz ensemble “Unlicensed Syncopation” and the Jazz Ensemble on March 27. The concert, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Westbrook Auditorium of Presser Hall.

Unlicensed Syncopation, directed by Visiting Instructor in Music Andrew Dahan, will perform: “All or Nothing at All” by Arthur Altman and Jack Lawrence and arranged by Kirby Shaw; “Brazasia” by Yutaka and arranged by Jennifer Barnes; the Beatles’ tune “I Will” arranged by Jeremy Fox; and “Let Your Light Shine” by Keb’ Mo’.

Unlicensed Syncopation held auditions and began rehearsals last semester after students Alyssa Gibson ’16 and Megan Win ’16 expressed interest in starting a vocal jazz group. Currently the ensemble includes eight singers; all of the ensemble members also sing in either the Collegiate or University Choir.

“The wonderful thing about this group is that it gives an opportunity to its members to learn about the practice and performance of more contemporary commercial music styles, so they become more versatile musicians,” said Dahan, who holds a master’s degree in jazz pedagogy from the University of Miami, the first school in the nation to offer degrees in jazz voice.

The Jazz Ensemble, directed by Assistant Professor of Music Timothy Pitchford, will perform: “Say It Softly” by Thad Jones; “Keep the Customer Satisfied” arranged by Bill Holman; “Prelude to a Kiss” by Duke Ellington; and “La Fiesta” by Chick Corea. Both groups will perform “I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me,” arranged by Darmon Meader.

The ensemble features music and non-music majors who perform many styles of jazz, with their main focus on jazz classics.

 

By Danielle Kamp ’15