Thirty years in the past might seem like a long time ago, but it came well after the golden age of jazz. Nevertheless, that’s when Jeff Haskell started AzJazz Week at the UA.
“”AzJazz Week brings the face of jazz to the public in an appealing manner,”” said Haskell, a veteran award-winning jazz director, musician, coordinator of jazz studies and a professor at the School of Music.
The event begins with the Original Wildcat Jazz Band on Sunday. They perform traditional New Orleans and Chicago-style jazz with a fiery force of trombone, trumpet, drums, saxophone, tuba and banjo, making this performance one of the most popular.
The second concert March 10 will feature Faculty Jazz, including Haskell on piano, as well as Rufus Reid on bass and Jason Carder on trumpet. Reid is one of today’s debut bassists in the international jazz scene and has performed and recorded with some of the best jazz musicians. Carder has displayed his musical talent on more than 80 albums. In 1988, he won first prize in the International Trumpet Guild Jazz Competition.
On March 11, the UA Concert Jazz Band takes the stage with director Jason Carder and special guest Brice Winston on the saxophone. This concert promises to bring forth a memorable performance by these talented musicians.
The newest trombone faculty member, Moisés Paiewonsky and John Fedchock will direct the UA Studio Jazz Ensemble performance March 12. Fedchock has been a part of the jazz scene since 1980 and has since been established as a first-class trombone soloist; he was recently recognized in Jazz Times magazine as one of the best trombonists for the 2007 readers poll.
AzJazz Week will end March 13 with Vocal Jazz, which features Vocal Ease and the UA Hepcats. The UA’s jazz singers will perform a concert with the theme “”Stormy Weather,”” with musical elements of jazz, pop and R&B in standard and a cappella arrangements. The featured songs include “”It’s Rainin’ Men”” and “”Singin’ in the Rain.””
“”Listeners can expect unforgettable melodies, exciting jazz rhythms and of course what jazz does best, which is musical improvisation,”” Haskell said.
All events take place at 7:30 p.m. at Crowder Hall in the School of Music building located on the southeast corner of East Speedway Boulevard and North Park Avenue. Concerts on March 9, 10 and 12 are priced at $9 for general, $7 for UA employees and $5 for ages 55 and over. Admission is free March 11 and March 13.
