By Paige Turner
College of Fine Arts and Communication Media Office
The first jazz concert of the year is coming to the University of Central Arkansas on Monday, Feb. 13, at 7:30 p.m.
The concert at the Snow Fine Arts Center Recital Hall is free and open to the public and will feature three groups.
“This concert will be one of the first concerts by any ensemble at UCA this semester,” said Larry Jones, assistant professor of trumpet and director of Jazz Studies. “As a result, the students will have put in an amazing amount of work for the preparation of all the music.”
The concert will open with the UCA Dixieland Band, directed by Dr. Jackie Lamar, professor of saxophone. The Dixieland Band will focus on New Orleans-style jazz best characterized by Louis Armstrong.
The Jazz Ensemble II will be the second group to perform and will be directed by Christian Carichner, assistant professor of tuba and euphonium. Jazz II will perform traditional jazz from the famous big bands of Duke Ellington, Count Basie and bands from the swing era of the 1940s.
Jazz Ensemble I, directed by Jones, will close the concert. Jazz I will play music that continues the progression of the big band music from the dance floor to the concert hall.
Jones said with Jazz I as the closing group, the concert will finish with a bang.
“Generally, Jazz I selections are more contemporary and challenging,” he said.
This will be the first of three concerts this semester for the Jazz Ensembles.
The other concerts featuring these groups will be held on March 12 and April 19.
For more information, contact Jones at (501) 450- 5018, rljones@uca.edu.