April 3-5, 2003 at University of Minnesota, Morris.
Trumpeter Byron Stripling and saxophonist Eric Marienthal will join UMM's own internationally renowned student jazz ensembles to headline the 25th Anniversary of Jazz Fest, April 3-5 at the University of Minnesota, Morris.
Public performances, featuring guest artists Stripling and Marienthal along with UMM jazz ensembles, under the direction of James "Doc" Carlson, will be given on each of the three days of Jazz Fest at 7:30 p.m. each evening in Edson Auditorium of the UMM Student Center.
In addition, Jazz Fest annually attracts over 700 high school and community jazz musicians who will participate in three days of clinics with Stripling and Marienthal. A schedule of clinics is included with this story.
Ticket information for evening performances is available by calling the Office of Student Activities, at 320-589-6080. Clinics are open to the public free of charge.
The first year of Jazz Fest
The brainchild of current UMM jazz ensembles director, James "Doc" Carlson, Jazz Fest began in the spring of 1979, Carlson's first year at UMM. "I thought it would be fun," recalls Carlson. Six high schools attended that first event, which included a preliminary concert on Friday, a jazz festival on Saturday and a Saturday evening performance.
Guest artists at the First Annual Jazz Fest were trombonist Randy Purcell and guitarist Rick Cornish. UMM had one jazz ensemble and one jazz combo.
The artists
Selected by conductor John Williams of the Boston Pops Orchestra to perform as featured soloist on the PBS television special, "Evening at Pops," trumpet virtuoso Byron Stripling has ignited audiences internationally.
An accomplished actor and singer, Stripling was chosen to star in the lead role of the Broadway bound musical, "Satchmo," following a worldwide search. Many will remember his featured cameo performance in the television movie, "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles," and his critically acclaimed virtuoso trumpet and riotous comedic performance in the 42nd Street production of "From Second Avenue to Broadway." Television viewers have enjoyed his work as featured soloist on the worldwide telecast of The Grammy Awards. Millions have heard his trumpet and voice on television commercials, TV theme songs (including "20/20" and CNN), and soundtracks on favorite movies.
Since his Carnegie Hall debut with Skitch Hendersen and the New York Pops, Stripling has become a pops orchestra favorite throughout the country, soloing with The Boston Pops, Virginia Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Boca Raton Pops, Knoxville Symphony, Baton Rouge Symphony, Illinois Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra, and American Jazz Philharmonic, to name a few.
He earned his stripes as lead trumpeter and soloist with the Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of Thad Jones and Frank Foster. He also played and recorded extensively with the bands of Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Herman, Lionel Hampton, Clark Terry, and Buck Clayton in addition to The Lincoln Center Classical Jazz Orchestra, The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, and The GRP All Star Big Band. Stripling enjoys conducting Seminars and Master Classes at colleges, universities, conservatories, and high schools. His motivational talks, combined with his incomparable wit and charm, make him a favorite guest speaker to groups of all ages.
Stripling was educated at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., and the Interlochen (Mich.) Arts Academy.
Eric Marienthal is one of the top saxophonists in the present genre of Contemporary Jazz music. He is a former member of The Chick Corea Elektric Band and like fellow former members drummer Dave Weckl and bassist John Patitucci, has been performing under his own name.
For the past 14 years Marienthal has traveled to over 60 different countries performing with Chick Corea, Barbra Striesand, Billy Joel, Elton John and many others including his own band.
He has recorded for prime-time television shows such as Frasier, Cheers, Sisters, Charlie Brown Specials, Entertainment Tonight, General Hospital, Santa Barbara and ABC Sports as well as films such as Payback, Bird on a Wire and Gone in 60 Seconds. Marienthal has been recording jingles in Los Angeles for the past 15 years for companies such as Nike, McDonald's, Coke, Cadillac, Ford Motors and many others.
For the past 3 years Marienthal has organized an annual fundraising concer= for High Hopes, a non-profit organization in Orange County that treats people who have suffered massive head and brain injuries and have nowhere else to turn.
He has held fundraisers for the Hoag Hospital Cancer Center in Newport Beach, Calif., and also held a concert for the Endowment for Youth Committee in Santa Barbara.
UMM's jazz musicians
The University of Minnesota, Morris has four jazz ensembles and numerous jazz combos. All of the jazz ensembles tour regularly to such locations as New Orleans. UMM musicians have performed for many music conventions, including the MMEA [Minnesota Music Educator's Association] convention in Minneapolis and the NCMENC [North Central Music Educator's National Conference] in Chicago. They have also performed at a variety of festivals, clinics, and UMM's own Performing Arts Series, as well as private events.
In July 1991, the UMM Jazz Ensemble was one of the 25 big bands from around the world to perform at the 25th annual Montreux (Switz.) Jazz Festival. During the Memorial Day Weekend of 1992, UMM jazzers performed with The Count Basie Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. In July of 1994 they performed in The North Sea Jazz Festival at The Hague, Netherlands. In the summer of 1997, the ensembles made return appearances at both Montreux and North Sea Jazz Festivals. In the summer of 2000, the UMM Jazz Ensembles performed at both the Montreux and Vienne, France Jazz Festivals.
A schedule of Jazz Fest clinics is included below:
HFA Recital Hall Byron Stripling and Greg Theisen - Thursday April 3
Friday April 4
Saturday April 5
Edson Auditorium: Eric Marienthal and Jim Carlson - Thursday April 3
Friday April 4
Saturday April 5
Instrumental Clinics: (4:30 pm daily)
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