Wednesday, January 31, 2001

WILMINGTON -- The UNCW Big Band, under the direction of Frank Bongiorno, and the Jazz Combo, directed by Jerald Shynett, will present its first concert of the spring 2001 semester at 8 p.m. on Friday, February 16, in Kenan Auditorium. General admission is $5; UNCW faculty, staff, senior citizens, and children under 12, $2.50; free to UNCW students with valid ID. Tickets will be available at the Kenan Auditorium Box Office prior to the concert.



The UNCW Jazz Combo will open the program with jazz standards as well as original compositions. The UNCW Big Band's program will include a variety of contemporary big band arrangements of recent compositions by Arturo Sandoval, Steve Weist, John Fedchcok, and others.



Over the years the UNCW Jazz Combos have garnered numerous awards at various jazz festivals including the 1995 Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, as well as a gold award (first place) for the best university combo at the 1997 JazzFest U.S.A. (sponsored by Down Beat magazine) held at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.



The UNCW Big Band performs music that includes swing through bebop styles and modern styles. In addition to their concert schedule, the UNCW Big Bands have produced several recordings, including three compact disc recordings (Portraits of Swing, Travelin' Light, and Summation), as well as a videotape called Sing Like a Pro. They have performed at various jazz festivals, including the 1997 Graz Jazz Festival in Austria and the prestigious North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague, Holland.



For more concert information, contact the Department of Music at 962-3390.