March 1 Jazz Concert Features Swinging Singers

A host of vocalists will perform with the Utah State University jazz bands at the upcoming Utah State University Jazz Concert March 1 in Kent Concert Hall of the Chase Fine Arts Center.

 

“In preparation for our swing-dance fundraiser for the Larry Smith Jazz Scholarship in mid-February, we put together several vocal features with the bands,” said Jon Gudmundson, director of the Jazz Orchestra. “It would be a shame to let a concert go by without letting everyone hear these fun arrangements, and the singers are doing a fantastic job on these songs.”

 

Todd Fallis, director of the Jazz Ensemble, agreed. “I always like to put a vocal tune or two on the program when I can, but this will be a night to really show off the exceptional singing talent we have here at Utah State.”

Included among the pieces in the Jazz Ensemble’s set will be such favorites as the swinging, upbeat arrangement of Lady is a Tramp and Count Basie’s Night Train.

 

Vocal arrangements include Larry Smith’s Unforgettable, sung as a duet, When I Fall in Love and You Make Me Feel So Young, made popular by the Nelson Riddle Orchestra. Rounding out the set is a barn-burning vocal arrangement of This Can’t Be Love and a slow, soothing arrangement of Embraceable You, featuring the trombone section.

 

The Jazz Orchestra plans to highlight several swinging vocal classics, including the Bobby Darrin version of Clementine, the Anita O’Day version of Opus One and the Latin style Sway, as done on the hit record by Rosemary Clooney. Also featured will be a charming arrangement of the wintertime standard Baby, It’s Cold Outside.

 

Karlee Larson, Trisha Losee, Nate Baxter and Brady Cullum will sing with the Jazz Orchestra.

Instrumental numbers will include the Thad Jones classic Mean What You Say, Benny Carter’s easy swinger Katy Do, Donald Fagan’s FM, as arranged by Fred Sturm, and a lovely baritone saxophone feature for Utah State student Brandon Cressall on George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.