Story by Bridgette McAuliffe, Staff writer
Photo by Bridgette McAuliffe
Murray State jazz ensembles paid tribute to Duke Ellington, one of the most influential musicians and composers in jazz history, on Tuesday, Nov 6.
Through the combined efforts of the Murray State Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Band, the ensembles played an array of music composed and performed by Duke Ellington, including excerpts from his work “Black, Brown & Beige.”
The Murray State Jazz Orchestra, led by Todd Hill, director of jazz studies, has performed at numerous conferences and released multiple CDs under Mark Records. His favorite part of directing both the jazz orchestra and jazz band is seeing how they’ve grown from their dedication and hard work.
“The rehearsal process has been arduous,” Hill said. “There are so many things about Duke’s music that have to be interpreted- you can’t just sit down and read it.”
“Black, Brown & Beige,” which recently became available for performance, has never been performed in Kentucky to Hill’s knowledge.
“It was written for the greatest jazz band in the world in 1943,” Hill said. “The students have had to cope with getting their skills up to that level to pull it off.”
Along with rigorous rehearsal schedules, students said they have made valuable friendships and memories through being involved with these organizations.
Winnie Smee, senior from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, plays baritone saxophone for the Jazz Orchestra.
“It’s made a huge impact because it’s allowed me to continue and further my musical skill instead of staying static,” Smee said. “The people have impacted me so much because they led me to SAI (Sigma Alpha Iota), which I’m now president of, and they led me to so many wonderful memories and fun times that I’ll never forget.”
Smee, who is not a music major, uses the ensemble to continue playing what she said is her favorite style of music. She said her favorite Ellington piece to perform at the concert was “Work Song.”
“It was the opening of the amazing work that is ‘Black, Brown & Beige,’” Smee said. “This was a perfect way to end my last semester.”
Nicholas Bushnell, senior from Louisville, Kentucky, is a member of the Jazz Band and has been playing in jazz ensembles since he was in middle school.
“The genre has always been an important art to me,” Bushnell said. “This ensemble has particularly had a dramatic impact on not only my musicianship but helped me understand more about the genre and grow closer to my peers.”
Ellington’s music has not only had a dramatic impact on American music and culture, but it continues to touch the hearts of listeners today. Bushnell’s favorite piece to perform, “St. Louis Todalu,” was a crowd favorite at Tuesday’s performance.
“With the background accompaniment of the brass and winds, along with the trumpet solo that soared through the concert hall, it’s definitely a chart to send shivers down your spine and enrapture you within the music,” Bushnell said.
Hill said there is no greater writer of American music, and that they hope to perform more concerts like this in the future, but it takes a special kind of composer to spend an entire semester working on their music.