NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Jazz music will fill W.M. Turner Auditorium as the Swingin' Axes and Swingin' Aces of Stephen F. Austin State University present a joint concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 8.
Under the direction of SFA Associate Professor Deb Scott, the Aces will begin the concert with a program that includes Gordon Goodwin's arrangement of Cole Porter's "It's All Right with Me" and Oliver Nelson's "Black, Brown, and Beautiful," featuring Nacogdoches sophomore Jacob Barnhill on alto saxophone.
The Aces will also present Tommy Newsom's arrangement of Duke Ellington's "C Jam Blues," as performed by Doc Severinsen and the Tonight Show Band.
The Swingin' Axes will also pay homage to Duke Ellington with "Perdido" and one of his early compositions, "Echoes of Harlem," featuring Ben Wheeler graduate student Nick Moore on trumpet, explained SFA Associate Professor Gary Wurtz, the ensemble's director.
"The Axes will continue with Dave Metzger's classic arrangement of 'On a Clear Day,' a modern interpretation of the jazz standard 'Invitation,' and, as a tribute to one of the all-time great band leaders, Count Basie's 'Muttnik,'" Wurtz continued.
The concert is a joint presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Music. W.M. Turner Auditorium is located in the Griffith Fine Arts Building, 2222 Alumni Drive.
Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $2 for students. For tickets or more information, please visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.
Axe ’Em, Jacks!