Release Date: March 26, 2009
KSU Jazz Guitar Ensemble and KSU Jazz Combo present new arrangements in concert
For media inquiries: Cheryl Anderson Brown, Director of Public Relations,
770-499-3417 or cbrown@kennesaw.edu
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Trey Wright |
KENNESAW, Ga.—Kennesaw State University artist-in-residence and jazz guitar instructor Trey Wright will lead the Jazz Guitar Ensemble and KSU Jazz Combo in a concert on April 15 at 8 p.m. at the Dr. Bobbie Bailey & Family Performance Center. The program will feature both traditional and contemporary jazz performances and will include compositions by Miles Davis, Thelonius Monk, Horace Silver, Wes Montgomery and other jazz composers.
The Jazz Guitar Ensemble will perform “Four on Six” by Wes Montgomery in a new arrangement by Wright. The arrangement will feature a familiar melody. Wright explains, “This is one of Wes’ signature songs. It was based on the chord progression to Gershwin’s ‘Summertime’ and I have brought the original melody back during the solo section.”
The concert will include another special arrangement by Wright of the Miles Davis composition, “Somethin’ Else.” “This piece was the title track off of a famous Miles Davis recording, which had to be labeled and released under the alto saxophonist Cannonball Adderley’s name for contractual reasons. Although the melody, form and some of the chords resemble blues, the piece has a deceptive harmonic progression under the melody, hence the title,” says Wright.
The program will also feature “The Kook” by Chris Buzzelli and “Waltz for Bill” by jazz composer Fred Hamilton. Hamilton also serves as director of the University of North Texas Guitar L5 Ensemble. The Jazz Guitar Ensemble will perform "Little Sunflower," a composition by Freddie Hubbard, as a special tribute to the composer and jazz trumpeter who passed away late last year. Another piece, “But Beautiful,” arranged by Dave Frackenpohl is on the program, along with the gospel-influenced swing tune, “The Preacher,” by Horace Silver. Jim Sadler is the featured soloist on the arrangement of “Round Midnight” by Thelonius Monk.
Wright is cofounder of the Athens/Atlanta based jazz band, Squat. He is a four-time winner of the Best Jazz Award at the Flagpole Athens Music Awards and a featured artist at the Atlanta Jazz Festival, the Twilight Athens Jazz Festival, and Harvest Midtown. Wright has performed with upright and electric bassist John Patitucci, Grammy-winning saxophonist Joe Lovano, and Mel Bay Records artist Corey Christiansen, among others.
Admission to the concert is free. For more information, contact the KSU box office at 770-423-6650 or online at www.kennesaw.edu/arts.
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A member of the 35-unit University System of Georgia, Kennesaw State University is a comprehensive, residential institution with a growing student population of more than 21,000 from 142 countries. The third-largest university in Georgia, Kennesaw State offers more than 65 graduate and undergraduate degrees, including new doctorates in education and business.
The KSU College of the Arts is one of only four Georgia institutions to have achieved full national accreditation for all of its arts programs.