Thursday Scholarship Series Continues with an Evening of Big Band Era Hits

The Hugh Hodgson School of Music will continue its 2018-19 Thursday Scholarship Series with an exciting performance by The University of Georgia Jazz Ensemble on Thursday, October 4th at 7:30 in Hodgson Concert Hall. The event is entitled “An Evening of Hits from the Big Band Era” and is sure to deliver on that with the program they have planned.

Led by Professor of Jazz Studies Dave D’Angelo, The UGA Jazz Ensemble will be performing a number of original arrangements from the big band libraries of the likes of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Les Brown, Woody Herman, and Tommy Dorsey. “This program will feature the big band hits from the days of ballroom dancing, which are standard literature for every jazz musician, as well as the foundation for all music in this genre that followed,” D’Angelo says.

Audiences will recognize “Take The ‘A’ Train”, “April In Paris”, “Opus 1”, “One O’Clock Jump”, and many others. “This evening will be one to tap your feet to the familiar tunes from the big band era!” D’Angelo remarks. The professor grew up in a musical environment with a background in listening to music of this era and playing at a very early age, so it’s no surprise that the chosen repertoire will be the evening’s focus.

The program will have guest faculty performers from the Hugh Hodgson School of Music as featured soloists. Professors Brandon Craswell, trumpet, and Connie Frigo, alto saxophone, will join in the musical festivities. Also adding to the evening will be special guest arranger Scott Silbert, former Navy Band saxophonist. D’Angelo remarks that he’s excited for this opportunity for the UGA Jazz Ensemble student musicians to become better versed in this era’s style of music. 

Tickets to this toe-tapping event are $20 for adults and $6 for students and children. All proceeds directly support student scholarships here at The Hugh Hodgson School of Music. If you are unable to attend, the concert can be streamed live on the school of music website at music.uga.edu/live-streaming.