Monday’s concert features new discoveries by ESU Professor of Music Patrick Dorian, who’s gone “international” in his ongoing quest to expand the definitive collection of Al Cohn’s music. During a recent trip that included a visit to the great saxophonist George Robert, Director of Swiss Jazz in Lausanne, Switzerland, Dorian’s digging unearthed some 25 new big band charts to add to the Al Cohn Memorial Jazz Collection. The Festival Orchestra will perform some of those selections, including an arrangement of “Over the Rainbow” by Tiny Kahn for Charlie Barnet’s Big Band in 1949 and “Music to Dance To” by Al Cohn.
At the center of the concert will be the Pocono premiere of new big band versions of music from “The Phil Woods Songbook” – arrangements created by students of trumpeter Bob Lark’s jazz program at DePaul University for an ongoing project that will culminate in the award of an honorary doctorate to Phil Woods at the university’s commencement ceremonies in May. The Latin influence in some of Phil’s compositions including “Brazilian Affair” and “Elis”, will be amplified by the addition of percussion and vibraphone to the Festival Orchestra.
Rounding out the program will be Al Cohn, Bob Brookmeyer, Bill Holman, and other great composers and arranger’s works from the Collection for the Gerry Mulligan Concert Jazz Band, the Terry Gibbs Dream Band, the Jerry Wald Orchestra and more.
The Smithsonian Institution launched Jazz Appreciation Month in 2001 as an annual event that pays tribute to jazz both as a historic and living American art form. As part of COTA and the Al Cohn Memorial Collection’s educational outreach (and to take advantage of the last day of spring break) – students will be invited at no cost to attend the Festival Orchestra’s rehearsal at the Sherman Theater at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, the day of the performance (valid student IDs will be required). An important element of JAM’s mission is to foster young people’s appreciation of jazz as a vital part of America’s cultural heritage, and as an American-born musical gift to the world – as well as a way to have fun in spirit, whether listening to or jumping in to play this unique music.
Dedicated to preserving all forms of jazz from all eras, the Al Cohn Memorial Jazz Collection (ACMJC) was founded in 1988 to honor the life and legacy of Al Cohn— legendary saxophonist, arranger, composer and conductor, and long-time Pocono resident. The collection is housed in Kemp Library on the ESU campus and consists of jazz recordings, oral histories, sheet music, photographs, books, videos, and original art and memorabilia, all generously donated over the years by supporters from around the world.
The COTA Festival Orchestra has performed at the annual COTA Jazz and Arts Festival throughout its 31-year run, and has twice toured Europe as the Phil Woods Big Band. The members include: Phil Woods, Nelson Hill, Jay Rattman, Tom Hamilton, Bob Keller, and Jim Buckley (saxes); Ken Brader, Danny Cahn, Eddie Severn, and Patrick Dorian (trumpets); Rick Chamberlain, Fred Scott, Kevin Haines, and Jim Daniels (trombones); Eric Doney (piano), Evan Gregor (bass), Bill Goodwin (drums), Marko Marcinko (drums and vibes), and Ed Hudak (percussion).
Eager to bring this Big Band music into the heart of the community, the Sherman Theater offered to partner the “Library Alive” series. Built in the 1920s, the recently renovated Sherman Theater is equipped to present many of today’s biggest shows. Complete with full bar and restaurant, it offers everything needed for a complete evening of entertainment. Audiences and performers alike have been awed by the fantastic acoustics, comfort, and historic feel of this rejuvenated downtown performance venue.
Tickets for the third “Library Alive” concert on April 13 are available for $25, $15 and $5 (student price) at the Sherman Box Office (524 Main Street, Stroudsburg PA) by calling (570) 420-2808, or online at www.shermantheater.com. All proceeds from this series will benefit ESU’s Al Cohn Memorial Jazz Collection and the COTA Fund for Young Musicians.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
