GMS Jazz Band joins DePauw Jazz Ensemble in concert Wednesday

Sunday, November 16, 2014
Melissa Guerrero and Elizabeth King, members of the DePauw University Jazz Ensemble, prepare for Wednesday's concert with the Greencastle Middle School Jazz Band in Kresge Auditorium of the Green Center for the Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 19.

The DePauw University Jazz Ensemble will heat things up Wednesday in Kresge Auditorium with hot licks and big band music that will also feature the Greencastle Middle School Jazz Band.

The joint concert takes place at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 19 in the Green Center for the Performing Arts.

The GMS ensemble will open the program with three pieces, including Sam Nestico's "Front Burner" and Billy Strayhorn's "Take the 'A' Train," performed with the university jazz group which had the honor of opening for TV personality Jimmy Kimmel Nov. 8.

This week's playlist includes works by Frank Mantooth, Oliver Nelson, Thad Jones and Bob Mintzer, along with two great arrangements by Bill Holman, "The Opener" and "Speak Low."

"When putting together a program, I like to highlight what the musicians do particularly well and include charts that present certain challenges that the sections will benefit from undertaking," Steven Snyder, director of the DePauw Jazz Ensemble, said. "Then, of course, you want a flow to the program. You want a nice mix with a kind of dynamic and emotional curve to the whole thing, too. Wednesday's program will be a little bit of all of that put together. "

General admission tickets to hear the joint jazz concert are $3. Tickets for seniors, children and all students are free, thanks to season sponsors Judson and Joyce Green.

To obtain tickets, visit www.depauw.edu/music/tickets, stop by or call the GCPA box office at 658-4827.

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