Jazz Studies Events  

Tuesday, November 15, 2011
JAZZ I and JAZZ II ENSEMBLES 

Ardrey Memorial Auditorium
Description: Program TBA
7:30 pm
$ Admission

 

NAU Jazz Ensembles to honor Joel DiBartolo  

(Flagstaff, AZ; Oct. 26) – NAU Jazz Ensembles will honor Joel DiBartolo with a tribute concert at Northern Arizona University’s Ardrey Memorial Auditorium on Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m. 

The jazz instrumental ensembles, under the leadership of Ryan Haines, acting director of Jazz Studies at NAU, will perform some of DiBartolo’s favorite pieces, chosen by the students.  The NAU Jazz Combo, an 8 member group, will play jazz standards, as well as an original composition by one of the combo’s members.

Jazz II will play “Ol' Man River,” composed by Oscar Hammerstein III and Jerome Kern, arranged for big band by Bill Holman; “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat,” composed by Charles Mingus and arranged for big band by Sy Johnson; and “Birk's Works,” composed by Dizzy Gillespie and arranged for big band by Mike Tomaro.

Jazz I will play “Lazy Bird,” composed by John Coltrane and arranged for big band by Bill Stapleton; “Tall Cotton,” composed by Sammy Nestico; “Oblivion,” composed by Astor Piazzolla and arranged for big band by Bob Curnow; and “A Problem With the Sun,” composed by Haines. 

“We'll close the show by bringing both Jazz I and II out on stage for a joint performance of one of Joel's favorite pieces, “The Chicken,” composed by Alfred James Ellis and arranged for big band by Kris Berg,” said Haines.  “Joel was such a huge source of inspiration to our past and present NAU music students, it will be wonderful to pay tribute to him by performing some of the music he and his jazz students worked on together over the years.”

Mr. DiBartolo died Sept. 27, 2011, in Scottsdale.   He is known as a jazz legend, string bass virtuoso and educator.   In 1995, he joined the School of Music faculty at Northern Arizona University as director of jazz and assistant professor of string bass.  Throughout his long and distinguished jazz career, Mr. DiBartolo performed with musicians such as Frank Sinatra, Carmen McRae, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Williams and Sarah Vaughn.

A reception in the Ardrey lobby will directly follow the performance.

The concert is free.  Donations to the Joel DiBartolo Jazz Scholarship are appreciated.  Contributions may be made to the Joel DiBartolo Jazz Scholarship (#1327), NAU Foundation, PO Box 22459, Flagstaff, AZ 86002-2459.

A Memorial Ceremony for a Brother of Kappa Kappa Psi will be held for Mr. DiBartolo before the concert at 7 p.m.  The ceremony is open to the public.  For more information, contact Kristi.Calvano@gmail.com.