Purdue News

March 12, 1999 Jazz Band tours Golden State during spring break WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The 21 members of the Purdue Jazz Band, the premier group of the University Band's jazz division, will spend spring break, March 13-20, on a tour of California. Directed by Marion "Mo" Trout, the Purdue Jazz Band has five saxophonists, five trumpeters, six trombonists, and a rhythm section comprised of drums, bass, piano, guitar and harmonica. The trip's co-sponsors, the Purdue Alumni Association and the University Band's Capital Campaign Committee, have spent the past year planning this tour. Performances have been scheduled to entertain the Purdue Alumni Clubs of San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco. The theme for the alumni performances is "The Ellington Legacy," as 1999 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of jazz great Duke Ellington. The programs will feature compositions by Ellington and by other jazz composers who have been influenced by Ellington's innovations. The band also will play at Steamer's Cafe in Fullerton, Calif., an important jazz venue in the Los Angeles area. Joining the Purdue Jazz Band on stage at Steamer's will be two well-known jazz recording artists, trumpeter Jim Linahon and trombonist Bill Watrous. The Purdue Band's jazz division has four student big bands and the American Music Review, which features vocalists and specializes in performances of popular music standards. Each band has at least three public performances per semester, including an annual jazz festival. The festival features jazz education clinics, performances by more than 80 high school and middle school bands, and performances by numerous nationally and internationally recognized jazz performers and educators. Because Purdue does not offer a degree in music, band members come from a variety of degree programs. Students are assigned to various jazz bands by audition each semester, and they are offered full college credits for band participation. The jazz bands are designed to study the performance, history, and styles of this American art form. CONTACT: Trout, (765) 494-3957, amybrandfo@aol.com. Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page