Lawrence University’s jazz musicians will have an opportunity to present their talents this Saturday, Oct. 16, at their Fall Festival concert.One of the various groups performing is the Lawrence University Jazz Ensemble. Consisting of 19 students, LUJE is directed by Professor Fred Sturm. The band is known as one of the best undergraduate jazz ensembles in the United States and has been named three times as an “outstanding collegiate jazz group” by Down Beat magazine’s Student Music Awards.
The Lawrence University Jazz Band will also perform in the Fall Festival concert, along with two smaller groups: one sextet and one quintet. Both small groups include saxophones, trumpets, piano, bass, and drums.
According to Sturm, the hour-long showcase will include performances of both traditional and cutting-edge repertoire. The Jazz Band will also premiere “Aim High,” a piece by Sturm. The piece was commissioned last summer by the Cranbrook School in Detroit to commemorate the school’s centennial.
Lawrence University jazz students have won awards from Down Beat for original composition, arranging, solo performance, and recording. In the conservatory, they work in small groups to practice performance and improvisation. The students often have opportunities to perform and record their music.
Overall, the showcase should prove to be a great representation of the jazz students’ hard work. Come to the Memorial Chapel this Saturday at 8 p.m. to see LU jazz in action.