The Adolphus Jazz Ensemble and the Gustavus Jazz Lab Band, both under the direction of first-year jazz studies director Dave Stamps, will present their fall (maybe “Early Winter”) concert on the Björling Recital Hall stage on Sunday, November 23 at 1:30 p.m. Admission to this joint concert by the two jazz ensembles is free and open to the public.
For his first major concert with the jazz ensembles, Director Dave Stamps has selected a program which includes a variety of jazz and big band standards, along with contemporary compositions and new arrangements of older works. And, for the first time in many years, he has also included a jazz vocalist with each of the jazz ensembles.
The Adolphus Jazz Ensemble will open Sunday’s concert at 1:30 p.m. Their program will include Bobby Timmons’ Dat Dere, Filthy McNasty by Horace Silver, Duke Pearson’s Jeannine, two works by Neil Hefti, Li’l Darlin’ and Teddy the Toad, and a Mike Tomaro arrangement of Dizzy Gillespie’s Manteca. In the mix are two vocal jazz arrangements: Bart Howard’s Fly Me to the Moon and When I Fall in Love by Victor Young and Edward Heyman.
The Gustavus Jazz Lab Band’s program will include Beautiful Love by Young/Van Alstyne/King, Don’t Git Sassy by Thad Jones, Oliver Nelson’s Emancipation Blues and the Thad Jones arrangement of Jerome Richardson’s The Grove Merchant. The band will continue with Dan Gailey’s In A Big Way, Michel Legrand’s The Windmills of Your Mind, Jamey Simmons’ When the Saints, Quincy Jones’ Quintessence, David von Kampen’s Sneak Out and the Tom Larson composition Socialist Pop Agenda. Vocal works on the program will include Dave Stamps’ arrangement of Crystal Silence by Chick Corea and Flora Purim, a Dave Wolpe arrangement of Victor Schertzinger and Johnny Mercer’s I Remember You, and Errol Garner and Johnny Burke’s classic Misty.
The Adolphus Jazz Ensemble, Dave Stamps, director
First-year jazz studies director Dave Stamps comes to Gustavus from the Glenn Korff School of Music at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he was studying jazz composition in completion of his doctor of musical arts degree. He is one of a very few UNL Othmer Fellows, the most distinguished recognition the University offers to resident doctoral students. At UNL, Dave directed the UNL Big Band, taught jazz history and world music, and coordinated the jazz chamber music program. He earned his bachelor of music from Southern Illinois University, and two master of music degrees from the University of South Florida and Northern Illinois University. He is an active trombonist. composer and arranger. He has performed with, or written for, the Colorado Jazz Orchestra, the Ninth & Lincoln Jazz Orchestra, and 5th Avenue, and has worked with Chuck Owen, Chick Corea, Gary Hobbs, Jim Widner, Wil Swindler and Luiza Zan, among others. He has performed throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Peru (at the Festival Jazz en Lima) and across Europe, including the Montreax Jazz Festival, the North Sea Jazz Festival, and Jazz à Vienne.
Sunday’s concert featuring the Gustavus jazz ensembles with new jazz studies director Dave Stamps will begin at 1:30 p.m. in Jussi Björling Recital Hall. The performance is free and open to the public.