Presented by The International Music Exchange.
Doors 2pm for 2:30pm start - No BYO permitted
The Gustavus Jazz Ensemble, directed by Dr. Dave Stamps, is the premier 21-member concert jazz ensemble at Gustavus Adolphus College. Formerly known as the Gustavus Jazz Lab Band and Gustavus Stage Band, the Gustavus Jazz Ensemble recently celebrated its 50th year of excellence.
Founded in 1970 by Dr. Mark Lammers, the ensemble is comprised of students majoring in a diverse array of academic disciplines. The ensemble, affectionately known as GJAZZ, prides itself on its multifaceted repertoire of classic big band works and cutting-edge arrangements by today’s leading jazz composers. GJAZZ often features faculty soloists and renowned guest artists from throughout the United States. Guests have included GRAMMY- winning vocalist Kurt Elling (an alum!), GRAMMY-nominated violinist Sara Caswell and virtuoso saxophonist Jon Irabagon.
The ensemble has performed regionally at the Minnesota Music Educators Association Mid- Winter Clinic, onstage at A Prairie Home Companion, and participated at the Elmhurst, Notre Dame, and Eau Claire Jazz Festivals (Big Band category winner at Eau Claire in 2015), in addition to touring extensively throughout the United States. When possible, the Gustavus Jazz Ensemble tours with the Gustavus Symphony Orchestra, allowing the two groups to combine to form a studio orchestra. This fairly unique collaboration took the ensembles to Greece and Macedonia in 2016 and Malaysia and Singapore in 2020.
The Gustavus Jazz Ensemble is part of a vibrant jazz program at Gustavus. The jazz program includes both large and small performance ensembles (instrumental and vocal) in addition to courses in jazz history, improvisation, recording techniques, music industry & entrepreneurship, as well as independent studies in jazz composition and arranging. The program also hosts the Gustavus Jazz Jamboree each year that welcomes more than 200 high school students to campus to perform, learn, and collaborate. Dr. Dave Stamps has led the program since fall of 2014.
Repertoire
Four-Five-Six composed and arranged by Frank Foster
Mercy Dance composed by Nadje Noordhuis and arranged by Vanessa Perica
On Green Dolphin Street composed by Bronislau Caper and arranged by Frank Mantooth
Cannonball Run composed and arranged by Gordon Goodwin
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes composed by Jerome Kern and arranged by Michael Philip Mossman
Recorda Me composed by Joe Henderson and arranged by Eric Richards
I Can’t Stop Loving You composed by Don Gibson and arranged by Quincy Jones
El Caborojeno composed and arranged by Bob Mintzer
A Walkin’ Thing composed by Benny Carter and arranged by Vince Norman
That’s Life words/music by Dean Kay & Kelly Gordon and transcribed by Jon Harpin
Something’s GoƩa Give words/music by Johnny Mercer and arranged by Dave Wolpe
All of Me words/music by Seymour Simons & Gerald Marks and arranged by Rick SƟtzel
All I Do is Dream of You words/music by Arthur Freed & Nacio Herb Brown and arranged by Pete King
New Rochelle composed and arranged by Bob Mintzer
Movin’ Uptown composed and arranged by Benny Carter