Birch Creek in Review
Here's a very quick recap of my recent experience at Birch Creek Music Performance Center's Jazz Session II.
Rejuvenation
I’m looking forward to the next two weeks of teaching talented students from the Midwest area and performing with the Birch Creek Jazz Orchestra at the Birch Creek Music Performance Center in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin. I have been fortunate to be among the faculty at Birch Creek since 2007, first as the director of the Ambassadors (advanced student combo) for a couple of years, and then as a regular member of the faculty ensemble comprised of world-class musicians.
This experience is truly a highlight of each year, as I get to teach and learn from all of the talented students and incredible musicians every day over the next couple of weeks. I’m also lucky to have the opportunity to play in an incredibly swinging big band full of all-stars, giving me so much inspiration and rejuvenation to take home as I begin the new academic year at UNF.
2018 Jazz Session II Trombone faculty and students pose for a photo during the final masterclass.
The Birch Creek Jazz Orchestra performs Thad Jones’ “Tiptoe.”
This Week in Review
View highlights from this past week of Koger/Matteson Jazz Festival that featured Reggie Thomas and Dennis Mackrel, and the Great American Jazz Series that also featured the two amazing musicians and educators.
View the highlight on Instagram.
Solo Features for Jazz Ensemble
Here is jazz ensemble arrangement of "April Green," a composition written by legendary saxophonist Bunky Green. The song was originally released in 1979 on Bunky Green's album Places We've Never Been that featured Randy Brecker, Albert Dailey, Ronald Kubelik, Eddie Gomez, and Freddie Waits. This arrangement for alto saxophone soloist and jazz ensemble was commissioned for Bunky Green and the University of North Florida Jazz Ensemble 1. The sheet music can be purchased here. If you are an artist who is interested in commissioning an original composition or arrangement that will feature you with a jazz ensemble, please contact me to discuss the details.
University of North Florida Jazz Students and Faculty perform April Green, a Bunky Green composition arranged for jazz ensemble by Clarence Hines. This performance from the 2011 CD/DVD April Green, features Bunky Green on alto saxophone.
Altered States
Altered States, an original composition for jazz ensemble, will be performed by the University of North Florida Jazz Ensemble II on Friday, April 20th at the Lakeside Jazz Festival. The performance will begin at 6:00 p.m. on the main stage.