Purdue News

October 1, 1999 Bands offers jazz and swing at homecoming concert WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Jazz tunes from the 20th century, performed by the Purdue Jazz Band, and lively swing tunes by the American Music Review will offer an upbeat ending to the university's homecoming festivities on Saturday, Oct. 16. Both performing groups share the Loeb Playhouse stage in Stewart Center for a free 8 p.m. concert for alumni, students and the community. "A Centennial of Jazz," the show put together by Jazz Band director Marion "Mo" Trout, surveys the century from ragtime to avant-garde jazz tunes. Trout said he plans to hop backward and forward in time to keep the audience guessing just what decade the band will tackle next. "It'll range from totally recognizable big band numbers to more avant-garde tunes, and a real nice, swinging arrangement of 'Witchcraft' in the Frank Sinatra vein," Trout said. Ragtime standards like "That's a Plenty" and old favorites like Stan Kenton's arrangement of Cole Porter's "I Love Paris" will contrast sharply with avant-garde tunes based on the music of Weather Report. Electric fusion of the 1970s, something that band hasn't had much of a chance to explore in the past, will also pop up on the program. Don Seybold, coordinator of the Purdue Convocations Jazz Set, will be master of ceremonies and provide commentary about the century in jazz. The program comes to a close with a rousing arrangement of "Won't You Come Home, Bill Bailey." American Music Review's swing program offers the perfect complement to the jazz offerings. Director William D. Kisinger's ensemble, made up of four singers and 20 instrumentalists, will perform "In the Mood," "Jump, Jive and Wail" and "Swingtime in the Rockies." Hannah Niebrugge, a sophomore from West Lafayette, will be featured vocalist in "You're Nobody Til' Somebody Loves You," and Frederick Muehlhausen, a sophomore from Buck Creek, will get the spotlight in "Don't Get Around Much Anymore." Both ensembles are part of Purdue University Bands, which has offered extracurricular musical opportunities for students for 113 years. CONTACT: Kathy Matter, Purdue Bands publicist, (765) 496-6785; kcmatter@schl-01.schl.purdue.edu   To the Purdue News and Photos Page