NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Swingin' Axes and Swingin' Aces, the jazz bands at Stephen F. Austin State University, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.
Directed by Dr. Gary Wurtz, professor of trumpet and jazz studies at SFA, the Swingin' Axes will perform a program in tribute to the Boss Brass, the premiere Canadian big band.
"Founded by valve trombonist Rob McConnell in the 1970s, the Boss Brass is an assemblage of the best studio jazz musicians in Toronto, Ontario," Wurtz said. "The band recorded numerous records over the decades and has earned 17 Grammy nominations."
The Swingin' Axes have chosen a program of some of the Canadian band's greatest hits, including "Just Friends," "Back Bacon Blues" and "I Got Rhythm."
The Swingin' Aces, directed by Dr. Deb Scott, SFA professor of trombone, will perform an electric program of 1940s swing, '50's bebop, and '60s and '70s funk.
The Aces' program will include "Route 66" by Bobby Troup and arranged by Michael Sweeney, "The Chicken" by Alfred James Ellis and arranged by Kris Berg, "Night Winds" by Jay Chattaway, "Havin' a Good Time" by Les Hooper, "Straight No Chaser" by Thelonious Monk and "Little Brown Jug" by Glenn Miller.
The concert is a joint presentation of the College of Fine Arts and School of Music. Cole Concert Hall is located in the Tom and Peggy Wright Music Building, 2210 Alumni Drive.
Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu.
Axe ’Em, Jacks!