APPLETON, WIS. – The Grammy Award-winning ensemble New York Voices and acclaimed trumpet soloist Ingrid Jensen highlight Lawrence University’s 28th annual Jazz Celebration Weekend Nov. 7-8.
New York Voices kicks off the two-concert weekend Friday, Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Lawrence Memorial Chapel. Opening the concert will be the Lawrence University’s Jazz Singers, directed by Phillip Swan, accompanied by vocalist/visiting clinician Kelly Eisenhour and Lawrence faculty jazz pianist Lee Tomboulian.
Jensen headlines the Saturday, Nov. 8 concert at 7:30 p.m. in the Memorial Chapel. She perform with the Lawrence Faculty Jazz Quartet and the award-winning Lawrence University Jazz Ensemble. LUJE was the recipient of Down Beat’s 2007 big band “outstanding performance” award in the magazine’s annual student music competition.
Tickets for both concerts are available through the Lawrence University Box Office, 920-832-6749. Ticket prices are $20-22 for adults, $17-19 for seniors, and $15-17 for students.
New York Voices, renowned for its excellence in jazz and the art of group singing, is celebrating its 20th year of performing. The group’s vocals reflect its jazz, Brazilian, rhythm and blues, classical and pop music influences, earning a reputation as “the most exciting vocal ensemble in current jazz,” according to the Boston Herald.
Swan, who directs the Lawrence Jazz Singers, calls New York Voices the “platinum standard” for vocal jazz groups. “Their attention to detail is unparalleled and witnessed through their tight harmonies, interesting arrangements, creative improvisation and ability to communicate and inspire an audience.”
The group has released six albums, including their latest, “A Day Like This,” in 2007. They have recorded and performed with many jazz luminaries, including the Count Basie Orchestra, Bobby McFerrin, Nancy Wilson, the Boston Pops and Jon Hendricks and they count Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and The Blue Note in both New York and Japan among their numerous concert venues.
Jensen, a 1989 graduate of the Berklee College of Music in Boston, has established herself as one of the top jazz artists in New York City and one of the premier trumpet soloists in the world. In addition to leading her own Ingrid Jensen Quartet, she has recorded and performed with the Grammy Award-winning Maria Schneider Orchestra, Kenny Garrett, Billy Taylor and the DIVA Big Band. She accompanied British soul star Corrine Bailey Rae in an appearance on “Saturday Night Live.”
“Ingrid’s got it all as an improvising artist — artful melodic, harmonic and rhythmic sensibilities, seemingly limitless technique, and a sound of unparalleled beauty,” said Fred Sturm, Lawrence’s director of jazz studies and improvisational music, who created Jazz Weekend in 1981.
Four of Jensen’s seven CDs have been nominated for Juno Awards, Canada’s version of the Grammy, including her latest, 2006’s “At Sea.”
In addition to the New York Voices and Jensen concerts, Lawrence’s Jazz Celebration Weekend involves more than 50 ensembles and 700 instrumental and vocal jazz students from schools throughout the Midwest performing and participating on Saturday in workshop sessions and clinics led by a distinguished team of jazz educators from around the country.
“It’s our mission to promote excellence in teaching, learning, and performing jazz, and we do it without trophies, ratings, or competition,” said Sturm. “It’s all about the joy of making jazz music.”
The weekend also showcases Lawrence’s own jazz talent, with six small jazz groups and the Lawrence Jazz Workshop performing in the Lawrence Memorial Union from 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.
“Jazz weekend is a 24-hour snapshot of the jazz activity at Lawrence and our surrounding community schools,” said Sturm. “We want our Lawrence student musicians to experience the magic of sharing the stage and interacting with renowned jazz artists.”
All of the Saturday daytime performances are free and open to the public.
