Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Swingin’ Axes and Swingin’ Aces jazz bands at Stephen F. Austin State University will perform a concert of jazz masterpieces at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.
The Swingin’ Aces, directed by Dr. J.D. Salas, associate professor of tuba and euphonium, will open the concert with several hits from The Count Basie Orchestra, including “Moten Swing” and “Switch in Time.” Other highlights will be performances of jazz classics “On the Sunny Side of the Street,” made famous by Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday’s hit “God Bless the Child.”
The Swingin’ Axes, directed by Dr. Deb Scott, professor of trombone and jazz studies at SFA, will present a program of “jazz giants,” she said.
“Our program is about historically important jazz composers who were also leaders and performers in their own big bands. We will start in 1945 and progress through 65 years of big band sounds,” Scott said. “All of these pieces were recorded by their own big bands, too.”
The program will include Tommy Dorsey’s “Chloe,” “All My Yesterdays” from the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra, and “Berlin Bei Nacht” by Oliver Nelson and his “Berlin Dreamband.”
“There are also two important modern composer-band leaders included: Gordon Goodwin’s ‘Hunting Wabbits’ by his Big Phat Band, and ‘Aurora’ by Patrick Williams and His Big Band,” Scott said.
This concert is a joint presentation of the 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 http://www.finearts.sfasu.edu/.