Purdue News
Purdue News
|
|
February 18, 2000 Montreux-bound Purdue Jazz Band to performWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Celebrating its invitation to perform this summer at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, the Purdue Jazz Band presents a "Jazz at Morton" free concert at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25. The 19-member band will make use of the more intimate environment at Morton Community Center, 222 N. Chauncey St., West Lafayette, to focus on the solo talents of its members, with everyone from the band's saxophone players to its pianist and guitarist enjoying spotlights. Tunes include "On the Purple Porpoise Parkway," "Ride the Night Beast," "The Song Is You" and "Make Your Dreams Come True." Director M.T. "Mo" Trout said the Montreux invitation not only is a dream come true, but also is a huge honor for the Purdue Jazz Band. It is the first time since the 1980s that a Purdue band has been invited to the event. "This is one of the most prestigious jazz festivals in the world. All the greatest names in jazz perform there," Trout said. Approximately a dozen university bands were invited to participate in the 2000 festival, following a rigorous selection process. The selection committee listened to tapes of the various applicants to find bands that met the quality standards demanded by the festival. "They also looked for bands that will be accepted by the public as far as entertainment value," Trout said. "We're proud to have a band accepted at Montreux, especially since we don't have a school of music here at Purdue. Most of the other bands invited come from schools of music, and this is just a tribute to the quality of musicians we have in our program." The Purdue Jazz Band will depart from campus on July 6 for the 10-day overseas performing trip. West Coast trumpeter Jim Linahon, who has enjoyed a long involvement with the Purdue Jazz Festival, will travel with the band as its guest artist. The trip also includes a performance at the International Music Festival in SaasFee, Switzerland, and a possible appearance at the North Sea Jazz Festival at The Hague in the Netherlands. The Purdue Jazz Band will perform a bon voyage concert, featuring tunes it will perform in Europe, at the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra's annual "Stars and Stripes" concert on July 4. CONTACT: Kathy Matter, Purdue Bands publicist, (765) 496-6785; kcmatter@purdue.edu
|
