Decembe 4, 2007

Purdue jazz bands to contribute to holiday cheer with concert

The free concert will include jazz versions of seasonal standards including "I'll Be Home For Christmas," "Sleigh Ride," "Here Comes Santa Claus," "Hanukah Swings" and "Jingle Bells." The Purdue Jazz Band, American Music Repertory Ensemble and Lab Jazz Band will perform.

"TubaChristmas," an annual event where tuba and euphonium players will offer low brass versions of holiday favorites, will precede the concert. It begins at 7 p.m. in the Stewart Center lobby. Admission also is free.

The whole evening is designed to be upbeat and light, said M.T. "Mo" Trout, director of all three jazz bands.

"We've got good seasonal songs that put everyone in the mood for the holidays, offering versions that range from contemporary rock to old-style big band with lots of different vocals," he said. "It's a very appealing family show that also shows off what our students do best."

Many of the holiday arrangements will feature Glenn Miller, Trout said. The American Music Repertory Ensemble will perform a "Glenn Miller Yuletide Medley" along with Miller versions of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and "Sleigh Ride," which will contain an allusion to another Miller hit, "Pennsylvania 6-5000."

The bands will play two different arrangements of "Jingle Bells." The American Music Repertory Ensemble will play the version made popular by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters.

"It's a really fun version with lots of scobby-do-do-doing and all that stuff," Trout said. The other version will be a modern arrangement created for the Purdue Jazz Band and this concert by Purdue alumnus Chet Bauch, a professional jazz musician, composer and arranger from Dayton, Ohio.

Trout said another highlight of the concert will be a Tom Kubis arrangement of "Deck the Halls."

"It's got a driving sound to it that reminds me of the Manheim Steamroller approach to holiday music," Trout said.

The concert also will feature tunes including "Winter Wonderland," "God Rest Ye Merry Trombones," "White Christmas" and "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" by Irving Berlin, and Frank Loesser's "Baby It's Cold Outside."

Purdue Bands & Orchestra is sponsoring "Holiday Cheer & All That Jazz" and is working with Brent's Bench, a musical instrument repair shop in Lafayette, to sponsor "TubaChristmas."

The next jazz event will be the annual Purdue Jazz Festival, which will take place Jan. 17-20. It will offer headliner concerts, competition and jazz jams. For information on the festival, visit https://www.purdue.edu/bands/jazzfest

Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu

Source: Kathy Matter, Purdue Bands public relations director, (765) 496-6785, kcmatter@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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