W&L Jazz Concert To Feature Classics, New Compositions
A jazz concert that brings together the University Jazz Ensemble and the Vosbein Magee Big Band will take place on Thursday, Nov. 6, at 8 p.m. in Wilson Hall, part of the Lenfest Center for the Arts on the campus of Washington and Lee University. This annual performance has become a fixture of the fall music season in Lexington and is free and open to the public.
The concert will open with the University Jazz Ensemble, directed by Terry Vosbein, presenting a program that showcases the breadth and vitality of the big band tradition. The ensemble will perform music from several different corners of the jazz world, including “Flight of the Foo Birds,” a classic from the Count Basie Orchestra; Duke Ellington’s elegant “What Am I Here For;” the driving rock tune “Vehicle” by The Ides of March; and Stan Kenton’s energetic take on the Latin standard “Peanut Vendor.” The set will also feature an original blues composed by the students in the band. This piece grew out of their shared musical ideas and was shaped collaboratively in rehearsal. Vosbein noted that this year’s student soloists are particularly strong and added, “I haven’t had a band this good in I can’t remember when.”
After intermission, the Vosbein Magee Big Band will take the stage to present two substantial works for jazz orchestra. The first will be the world premiere of “The Mississippi River Suite,” an original composition by Vosbein written specifically for this concert. The four-movement suite was written on a road trip the composer took along the full length of the Mississippi River, beginning at its headwaters near Bemidji, Minn., and ending where the river empties into the Gulf of Mexico at Venice, La. The suite reflects the changing character of the river and the rich musical and cultural landscapes found along its path.
The second featured work is “Jazz Quartally,” a suite composed by the late George West. West was a respected figure in the jazz world and served as an important friend and mentor to both Vosbein and co-leader Chris Magee. Over the course of his long career, West built a reputation as a gifted educator, arranger, trombonist, and composer. His suite offers another perspective on big band writing, one rooted in tradition with a clear cut look to the future.
A highlight of this annual concert is the moment when the senior members of the University Jazz Ensemble are invited to join the Vosbein Magee Big Band for a special collaborative performance. This year, that moment will feature a new piece titled “Indigo Skies,” composed by saxophonist and composer Greg Moody specifically for the occasion. The featured seniors include Ava GianGrasso on tenor saxophone, Nick Rizzo and Kevin Warren on trumpet, and Tim Johns on drums. Their appearance alongside the professional band represents a meaningful bridge between the student experience and the broader world of jazz performance.
The concert promises an evening of energy, creativity, and collaboration. It continues the tradition of bringing together musicians at various stages of their musical lives in a shared celebration of jazz.
It will also be streamed online at https://go.wlu.edu/ livestream.
