His Bodacious Cowboys project or the ‘Do It Again’ hr Big Band CD can be found on the Mizar5 website and will get us somewhat acquainted with the arranger of these 11 Steely Dan songs: Fred Sturm. He returned home to the Lawrence University in Wisconsin as the director of Jazz & Improvisational Music and was one of Carolyn Leonhart’s teachers during his time at the Eastman School of Music in New York. His work ranges widely, from indepth analyzing the history of jazz arranging to composing and arranging music for musicians such as Dianne Reeves, Phil Woods, Wynton Marsalis and Bobby McFerrin. He also edited and published the scores of Maria Schneider’s ‘Evanescence’ compositions (along with editorial comment) and interviewed this remarkable composer/bandleader who recently won a 2005 Grammy for her “Concert in the Garden". Fred Sturm’s musical upbringing was classical in many respects, including ‘clandestine’ joy by listening to the radio, discovering rock & roll and becoming addicted to ‘anything with horns’. And he traveled thoroughly in the wonderful auditive imagery of jazz and big band music. Being a teacher enables him to pass knowledge and passion on to the next generation, as well as experience it as a reciprocal deal: one of energetic mutual inspiration. Do read an M5 interview with this “musical mutt" Professor on ww.mizar5.net
For more information contact All About Jazz.
