Two bands perform at first Southeast Jazz Series event

Tonight, the sounds of decades of big band music will fill the Bedell Performance Hall on the River Campus of Southeast Missouri State University as the first Southeast Jazz Series event takes place. "The Big Bands are Back" features music from renowned big band leaders like Buddy Rich, Gordon Goodwin and Don Ellis.

The Southeast Studio Jazz Ensemble and the Southeast Jazz Lab Band will perform selections that highlight soloists, as well as section solos. Rooted in the swing era of the 1930s, big band music has evolved through the years to feature more instruments while retaining its swing roots.

Robert Conger, associate professor of music at Southeast and director of the bands, said this performance is going to be an acoustic show, much like early big band performances were.

"This has been great for the bands," Conger said. He said the acoustic shows require more attention to dynamics within the band, which hones their skills as musicians.

Before the concert begins, music will be provided by a jazz quintet made up of Nate Nall on trumpet, Spencer Day on tenor sax, Chris Whited on drums and Bryndon Lee on guitar.

The Jazz Lab Band will perform "Mercy, Mercy," written by Joe Zawinul and made famous by the Buddy Rich Big Band in the late 1960s.

Both bands will have soloists throughout the night.

Beyond the concerts at the River Campus, Southeast's jazz program has been able to expand their outreach in performance and education thanks largely to Jazz Friends, a jazz patronage society.

"Jazz Friends has enabled us to go on a tour in St. Louis last year, and I think we'll be able to do another tour this year," Conger said. The tour consisted of visiting schools from Farmington, Mo., up to University City, as well as touring Jazz at the Bistro.

Jazz Friends was started two years ago by Conger as a way to build outreach and awareness of the jazz program at the university.

"If people are interested in becoming a member, they get tickets to our concerts, T-shirts, reserved parking, and they just have to call me," Conger said.

The Studio Jazz Ensemble will perform Dec. 4 at Buckner Brewing Co., which will be their last show of the semester.

Plenty of tickets are still available for "The Big Bands are Back," but Conger said the program has been building a bigger audience.

"For us, selling out the lower floor and having to open up the balcony is a good concert," Conger said. "We've had several like that, and hope to again."

Tickets may be purchased by contacting the River Campus box office in the Cultural Arts Center or by calling 651-2265. Tickets may also be purchased online at metrotix.com, keyword "jazz concert" or by calling toll free 800-293-5949. For further information about the Southeast Jazz Band Concert Series or Jazz Friends, contact Conger at 651-2398.