2008 Woodie Awards
Jazz up the musical world
Full Jazz concert brings Sonny Fortune
Rachael Kephart
Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: A&E
- Page 1 of 2 next >
It was a full house on Nov. 10 when the Fall Jazz Concert took over Ballantyne Auditorium. The Kirkwood Jazz Ensemble played along with the CR Jazz Big Band and guest artist Sonny Fortune.
"The promotion on this has been fantastic the papers, KCCK and marketing, media services video; and this will also be on cable TV," Tim Feldkamp, coordinator of instrumental music activities, said. The Kirkwood Jazz Ensembles have two major concerts on campus in addition to the Fall Jazz Concert. One of the ensembles is comprised solely of college students and the other is made up of community members.
The instrumentalists in the ensembles take jazz improvisation as a prerequisite to prepare for concerts like this one. "Besides reading music, they have to be able to play a solo," Feldkamp said. "Part of playing in jazz is jazz improvisation which prepares them for the Jazz Ensemble," he added.
"To be prepared for a concert of this stature they need to be very polished and organized because we are bringing in a jazz icon and he has played with people that are legends of jazz," Feldkamp said of the guest artist, Sonny Fortune.
"I have had the good fortune," Fortune said with a laugh, "to work with some great people like Mango Santamaria, Buddy Rich, Miles Davis, Nat Adderly and Elvin Jones."
Fortune, saxophone guru, has been involved with music almost 50 years. "Alto saxophone is my first instrument and the instrument that I put the most interest on. I've played them all but I don't want to play the baritone anymore because it's too heavy and cumbersome. The flute also takes a lot of time," Fortune said.
"Guest artists serve as mentors to the students and show them what it takes to be a jazz artist. To play with someone of this international stature is an honor, so the ensembles are definitely elated," Feldkamp said.
Fortune recently released his newest CD "You and the Night and the Music" in September. "Currently I'm just trying to play these instruments," Fortune said. "The record, or CD rather, just came out so I'm not thinking too far beyond right now. I'm trying to work with my band."
"The promotion on this has been fantastic the papers, KCCK and marketing, media services video; and this will also be on cable TV," Tim Feldkamp, coordinator of instrumental music activities, said. The Kirkwood Jazz Ensembles have two major concerts on campus in addition to the Fall Jazz Concert. One of the ensembles is comprised solely of college students and the other is made up of community members.
The instrumentalists in the ensembles take jazz improvisation as a prerequisite to prepare for concerts like this one. "Besides reading music, they have to be able to play a solo," Feldkamp said. "Part of playing in jazz is jazz improvisation which prepares them for the Jazz Ensemble," he added.
"To be prepared for a concert of this stature they need to be very polished and organized because we are bringing in a jazz icon and he has played with people that are legends of jazz," Feldkamp said of the guest artist, Sonny Fortune.
"I have had the good fortune," Fortune said with a laugh, "to work with some great people like Mango Santamaria, Buddy Rich, Miles Davis, Nat Adderly and Elvin Jones."
Fortune, saxophone guru, has been involved with music almost 50 years. "Alto saxophone is my first instrument and the instrument that I put the most interest on. I've played them all but I don't want to play the baritone anymore because it's too heavy and cumbersome. The flute also takes a lot of time," Fortune said.
"Guest artists serve as mentors to the students and show them what it takes to be a jazz artist. To play with someone of this international stature is an honor, so the ensembles are definitely elated," Feldkamp said.
Fortune recently released his newest CD "You and the Night and the Music" in September. "Currently I'm just trying to play these instruments," Fortune said. "The record, or CD rather, just came out so I'm not thinking too far beyond right now. I'm trying to work with my band."
Be the first to comment on this story