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| Jazz at Holmes opens with an outdoor jazz tribute to Woodstock Jazz at Holmes will open its fall series of free Thursday night jazz concerts with an outdoor jazz tribute to the 40th anniversary of Woodstock. The concert — which will take place at 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, in Brookings Quadrangle — will feature a six-person jazz ensemble led by William Lenihan, director of jazz performance in the Department of Music in Arts & Sciences. "The connections between rock music and jazz of the era of Woodstock are many, and not just that which the sonic possibilities of electric and electronic musical instruments brought to the stage, " Lenihan explained. "Breaking stylistic boundaries, creating new expressions and symbols of musical thought, whether through Coltrane, Hendrix or Dylan, American popular music had freed itself from its commercial limitations, with audiences fully participating in it's creation, " Lenihan added. "Jazz at Holmes Series is celebrating the music in this spirit of performance." On Sept. 17 Jazz at Holmes will return indoors to Holmes Lounge — its usual locale — for a concert by Fresh Heir, which performs soul-tinged music featuring trumpet and saxophone. Next up, on Sept. 24, will be Utter Chaos, featuring baritone saxophone Andy Ament and trombonist Cody Henry. The group will perform works by jazz great Gerry Mulligan ( 1927-1966 ). Then, on Oct. 1, clarinetist Scott Alberici and his group will explore music of the swing era. Two concerts will salute trumpeter Miles Davis, who grew up just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, in Alton, IL. The first takes place Oct. 8, when Lenihan will lead a group of local musicians in recreating — from transcriptions he prepared — Davis' historic album Birth of the Cool. The record helped introduce the concept of "cool jazz" and its response to the bebop of the late 1940s. Trumpeter Danny Campbell, drummer Maurice Carnes and their group will perform modern jazz Oct. 22, followed by pianist Ptah Williams Oct. 29. Saxophonist Willie Akins — the St. Louis jazz legend who frequently performed in Gaslight Square during its 1960s heyday — will appear with his quartet on November 5. The second tribute to Davis will take place Nov. 12. Lenihan and ensemble will return to the late 1960s with a series of works representing the fusion style Davis pioneered on recordings such as In a Silent Way and Petit machines. Jazz at Holmes will conclude Dec. 3 with New York-based drummer Steve Davis, who will be joined by Lenihan and friends for an evening of modern jazz. The author of six books about playing drums, Davis has performed and recorded with such jazz luminaries as Bill Evans, Richie Beirach and John Pattitucci, and served as visiting professor of jazz studies at the Berlin Conservatory of Music. All concerts are free and open to the public. Holmes Lounge is located in Ridgley Hall, on the west side of Brookings Quadrangle, near the intersection of Brookings and Hoyt drives. JAZZ AT HOLMES FALL 2009 SCHEDULE Sept. 10: Outdoor tribute to Woodstock's 40th anniversary Sept. 17: Fresh Heir Sept. 24: Utter Chaos performs music of Gerry Mulligan Oct. 1: Clarinetist Scott Alberici and his group perform music of the swing era Oct. 8: Miles Davis tribute recreating Birth of the Cool Oct. 22: Trumpeter Danny Campbell and drummer Maurice Carnes Oct. 29: Pianist Ptah Williams and his group Nov. 5: Saxophonist Willie Akins and his quartet Nov. 12: Miles Davis tribute featuring selections from In a Silent Way and Petit Machins Dec. 3: Drummer Steve Davis, guitarist Willian Lenihan and friends write your comments about the article :: © 2009 Jazz News :: home page |