Pieces from the swing era to big bands will be performed at the Jazz Rock Ensemble concert on Saturday, April 21, at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
The concert, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the UNK Fine Arts Recital Hall. The performance will be directed by Dr. Jim Payne, UNK professor of music and performing arts.
“They (the ensemble) will perform jazz pieces styled in several types of swing, Latin, rock, jazz rock fusion, contemporary jazz, ballad and funk,” Dr. Payne said. “The music will come from the libraries of Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Bob Mintzer and The Yellowjackets, Lars Halle Jazz Orchestra, Les Hooper, Billy Strayhorn, Sammy Nestico and Maynard Ferguson Orchestra.”
The performance will include solos on piano, guitar, alto, tenor and bari saxophone, trumpet, trombone and drums. Dr. Payne will perform the trumpet solo on “The Spirit of St. Frederick,” made famous by Maynard Ferguson in 1980.
“The music comes from our tour of four schools in Nebraska, plus other great charts that have a lot of audience appeal,” Dr. Payne said. Students are selected for the UNK Jazz Rock Ensemble through competitive audition.
Members of the UNK Jazz Rock Ensemble are listed below, alphabetically by hometown, along with their instruments:
Columbus – Alex Jones, guitar
Grand Island – Andrea Hesterman, trumpet; Ryne Miller, baritone saxophone; Eric Rempe, trombone
Gretna – Aaron Ray, piano
Holdrege – Eric Jones, drums
Kearney – Tyler Allen, trombone; Kory Reeder, bass
Lexington – Morgan Sentelle, trumpet
McCook – Casey Cobb, tenor saxophone
Minden – Jonathan Hunzeker, trombone; Katie Lewis, alto saxophone; Vergil Nelson, trombone; Matthew Stubbs, trumpet
Mitchell – Matt Powell, drums
Ralston – Joey Casella, tenor saxophone
Ravenna – Mike Bohn, bass
Wahoo – Gabe Haberman
OUT OF STATE
Michigan
Southfield – Anthony Ford, tenor saxophone
Minnesota
Mahtomedi – Kelly Skunes, trumpet
