1 Day to go!!!!!

1 Day to go, and last night's rehearsal was awesome! We have some of the finest Jazz musicians from around Missouri who will be with us tomorrow night, which is sure to be "Unforgettable" which incidentally is one of the songs our soloist Nancy Kelly is going to sing. At Coffee and Classics at Borders last night I interviewed her and she discussed the program and then did an impromptu scat to the recording I had of Count Basie's One O'Clock Jump:

Listen to Nancy Kelly at Borders

Also yesterday at Rotary Club Southeast where I am a member, I brought with me a group from MSU's Jazz Symposium which is directed by Saxophonist Randy Hamm (also a soloist tomorrow night). The group is called "Groove Unit", and Jacob Hiser who plays in our 1st Violin section is their Pianist. I recorded their performance, here's one of the selections:

500 Miles by Chick Corea

Jazz for me has always felt authentic. Great melodies, harmonies, virtuosity, creativity and personality are needed in equal measure just like in Classical music. At its very best Jazz is a visceral experience when either listening or playing Jazz. I feel the same way about Classical music and composers such as Bernstein, Stravinsky, Copland and especially Gershwin incorporated Jazz into their compositions. There are many other parallels with Classical music along with iconic performers and composers that helped shape America’s cultural landscape. Louis Armstrong, Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Oscar Peterson, Dave Brubeck (who recently appeared here at Juanita K Hammons Hall), all geniuses.

Tonight we combine an Orchestra and a Big Band to create a HUGE BAND! If you look along our Trombone section you will see Bill Hartmann on Bass Trombone. He actually played with Stan Kenton (who visited Springfield several times) and so playing a Kenton Medley tonight will surely bring special memories for him, and hopefully for you. Randy Hamm has arranged Laura transcribing it directly from the Charlie Parker with Strings album. Nancy Kelly our vocalist as you will hear in Aint Nobody’s Business channels Billie Holiday whilst bringing her own unique style and sound to all the numbers she sings. We have assembled some of the finest Jazz musicians from around Missouri to make this a night to remember!

I wrote a post last November called “Save the Wails” on my blog Sticks and Drones about the disappearing Jazz Club establishment. I make a suggestion at the end of the post which I am hoping to act upon, to start Jazz in the lobby after our concerts. You can read it Here

See you tomorrow!!!

Ron Spigelman