NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Swingin' Axes and Swingin' Aces, the jazz bands of Stephen F. Austin State University, will perform the music of such jazz greats as Thelonious Monk and Sammy Nestico when the bands take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.
The Swingin' Axes will perform an eclectic concert of compositions from across the decades, according to Dr. Gary Wurtz, professor of trumpet and jazz studies at SFA and director of the Swingin' Axes.
Among the tunes to be played will be the classic arrangement of "Who's Sorry Now," written by Sammy Nestico for the Count Basie Band, and the very modern "Jazz Police" by Gordon Goodwin. The Axes will also perform a large jazz ensemble favorite from the 1970s' "Suncatchers" by Marius Nordal, made famous by the One O'Clock Lab Band of the University of North Texas.
"The band is also proud to feature graduate baritone saxophonist Carly Hood on 'Quiet Time,' recorded by the Dallas Jazz Orchestra on their album 'Scrapbook,'" Wurtz said.
Among the pieces to be performed by the Swingin' Aces, directed by Dr. Deb Scott, professor of trombone, are the swing piece "Well You Needn't (It's Over Now)" by Thelonious Monk and arranged by Mark Taylor; the ballad "First Child" by Robert Curnow as performed on the "Stan Kenton Plays Chicago" CD; and the swing piece "Groove Blues" by Don Menza. The Aces' program will also feature the funk piece "Don't Be Silly" by Lars Halle and the Latin "Cabeza de Carne" by Matt Harris.
The concert is a presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Music.
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!