NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Swingin' Axes and Swingin' Aces jazz bands at Stephen F. Austin State University will perform the music of Count Basie, Duke Ellington and other jazz greats at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 4, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.
"It's an exciting semester for jazz at SFA," said Dr. Deb Scott, professor of trombone and interim director of the Swingin' Axes for the spring. Dr. J.D. Salas, associate professor of tuba and euphonium, is interim director of the Swingin' Aces this semester. Scott and Salas assumed new roles this semester with the reassignment of Dr. Gary Wurtz as interim director of the SFA School of Music.
"Both jazz bands are sounding great and have really exciting new music planned," Scott said.
The Aces will perform "Just Friends" by John Klenner, arranged by Joe Jackson; "Basic-ally Yours" by Thad Jones; "Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars" by Antonio Carlos Jobim, arranged by Mark Taylor; "C-Jam Blues" by Duke Ellington, arranged by Dave Wolpe; and "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans" by Louis Alter, arranged by Les Hooper.
The Axes' program features "Moanin'" by Charles Mingus, arranged by Sy Johnson; "Count Me In" by Count Basie, arranged by Billy Byers; "Point No Point" by Dan Gailey, jazz director at the University of Kansas; "Wrygly" by Maria Schneider; "Got a Grip" by Chris Culver; and "Point of Return" by Paul Ferguson, a fast Latin number composed for the Paul Ferguson big band.
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!