'Stagedoor Spectaular' features two bands, singers and dancers

Purdue Bands offers a Long Center entertainment doubleheader with Stagedoor Spectacular, an evening of classic pop tunes with singers and dancers, on Friday, March 5, and a showcase for Purdue's jazz combos on Saturday, March 6.

Both shows start at 8 p.m. at the Long Center, located at 111 N. Sixth St. Admission to both is free.

Stagedoor Spectacular brings the American Music Review big band together with the Boiler Brass men's basketball band for an old-fashioned musical variety show that features singers and dancers.

Such tunes as "It's Only a Paper Moon," "Call Me Irresponsible," "It Had to be You," "April in Paris" and "This Could Be the Start of Something Big" are among the tunes American Music Review, and its singers, will perform.

Bill Kisinger, who directs both bands, gets the chance to step into the solo spotlight at the concert. An accomplished euphonium player, Kisinger will solo on Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Wave," a Brazilian tune Kisinger calls "my all-time favorite bossa nova."

Putting "Wave" on the program also constitutes a tribute to Frank Mantooth, one of two noted arrangers who recently passed away. Kisinger salutes the other arranger, Billy May, with a performance of Sammy Nestico's "Billy May for President."

Student arranger Matt Janszen, a junior from Cincinnati, OH, makes his arranging debut at the concert with Boiler Brass and "Come Out and Play," a rock tune originally performed by The Offspring.  An engineering major, Janszen wants to try his hand at a non-engineering career after graduation, one that includes composing movie music.

"Arranging music offers me a chance to learn about the individual instruments within an ensemble and how to use their tonal colors effectively.  Each arrangement I write presents new challenges that stretch my creativity," Janszen says.

 "The arranging process is something that can only be learned through experience which is why I am so grateful for the opportunity Prof. Kisinger has offered me. My goal with every arrangement is to explore as many styles of music as possible. This exploration will ultimately help in my future goal of becoming a film composer."    

For Boiler Brass fans, the concert offers a chance to really listen to the band without the hoopla of a Mackey Arena home game. Kisinger says the band will open its portion of the show with "Tuba Hail" and will add to the evening's variety with tunes that range from Cole Porter with "Begin the Beguine" to Bon Jovi with "Living on a Prayer" and Dave Brubeck with "Rondo a la Turk."

The Goldusters dance squad will perform a dance routine to "Tell Her About It" with Boiler Brass and Purdue's solo twirlers will be featured in "Cantina Band" and "Puttin' On The Ritz."

The doubleheader continues on Saturday, March 6, with a concert featuring three of Purdue's jazz combos. This is a rare public concert performance for the combos who usually perform at private campus and community functions.

Two of the three combos will feature original tunes with Richton Park, IL, sophomoreAlex Fenske and Fort Wayne senior Ryan Hicks contributing to the contemporary jazz repertoire. Pieces by Miles Davis and John Coltraine are also on tap at the free event along with an array of jazz standards.

For more information on both concerts call (765) 496-6785. American Music Review will again be feature in concert on April 17 at the Long Center. The next jazz concert is the Super Jazz Jam on March 27 in Loeb Playhouse.