Purdue News
Purdue News
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October 6, 2000 Concert to pay tribute to 'The Duke' and 'The Count'WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The musical work of Duke Ellington and Count Basie, two of America's most beloved big-band leaders, will be featured in American Music Review's "The Duke & The Count" at 8 p.m. Friday (10/13) in the North Ballroom, Purdue Memorial Union. The free event is sponsored by Purdue University Bands. With the 26-member, jazz-oriented American Music Review, director William D. Kisinger, associate professor of bands, echoes the style and spirit of the big bands and vocalists of the 1940s. Pop standards like "Satin Doll" and "In a Sentimental Moment" set the tone for the evening, which also includes the George Gershwin classic "Strike Up the Band" and Cole Porter's "I've Got You Under My Skin." "Duke Ellington was probably the single most creative and prolific composer-arranger in jazz history," Kisinger said. "He experimented with lots of unusual voicings of mixed instruments in addition to writing for saxophone, trumpet and muted trombone." The concert will provide an opportunity to compare the music of Ellington and Basie. "Unlike Ellington, Count Basie's band always placed more emphasis on swing and simplicity than on complexity and colorful sounds," Kisinger said. American Music Review's first concert of the season makes extensive use of its singers. West Lafayette native Hannah Niebrugge, a junior majoring in pharmacy, is featured in Duke Ellington's "I'm Beginning To See the Light." Other vocalists interpret tunes of Gershwin, Jerome Kern and Cole Porter. American Music Review's entire quintet of voices join forces in a high-powered version of "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing." Purdue University Bands offers a wide variety of jazz, concert band and orchestral events each semester. American Music Review's next performance is Dec. 1 in a Holiday Concert with the Purdue Jazz Band. CONTACT: Kathy Matter, (765) 496-6785; kcmatter@purdue.edu
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