Trumpeter and composer Dave Douglas and the brass quartet The Westerlies will perform at a special concert in Nightingale Concert Hall in the Church Fine Arts at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 24, as a fundraiser for the University of ÁùºÏ±¦µä, Reno's program in Jazz and Improvisational Music.
"It is generally agreed upon that Dave Douglas is one of the most versatile and influential improvising artists of the last 30 years," Adam Benjamin, assistant professor of jazz piano at the University, said. "His career had covered almost every conceivable ensemble and kind of music. Yet, he continues to come up with new projects that are interesting and engaging, and that crosses stylistic boundaries
Dave Douglas Meets The Westerlies tour is a fresh collaboration featuring three trumpets, two trombones and drums. The University performance is part of a special five-city tour that includes performances at the SFJAzz Center in San Francisco; Portland, Oregon; and the Earshot Jazz Festival in Seattle, Washington.
Douglas writes new music for The Westerlies, comprised of four childhood friends from Seattle - Riley Mulherkar and Zubin Hensler on trumpet, and Andys Clausen and Willem de Koch on trombone. Performing with the group is Philadelphia drummer Anwar Marshall.
Equally at home in concert halls and living rooms, The Westerlies navigate a wide array of venues with the precision of a string quartet, the audacity of a rock band and the charm of a family sing-along.
In the new music Douglas is writing for the group, he explores great American themes in a rich collection of warm brass sounds, which is full of power and soul.
The concert will pay honor to the great jazz tradition but with the resonance with classical music, wind ensemble and brass music.
Faculty and staff also will join the group for a collaborative grand finale.
All proceeds from the concert will help support the program in Jazz and Improvisational Music, which is in a period of growth with several new noteworthy faculty hires and great student diversity. Funds will be used to bring guest artists to work with students, outreach efforts, community performances, to upgrade equipment and fund scholarships.
The University's School of the Arts embraces its role as a vibrant center for arts and culture in northern ÁùºÏ±¦µä. Its degree programs provide a strong foundation in a range of artistic disciplines, enabling students to contribute as artists, educators and scholars at the local level and beyond. The School also supports and encourages research, innovation and the artistic endeavors of its faculty. Finally, the school encourages broad campus and community participation in the arts through its numerous performances, lectures, shows, core courses and outreach activities that explore diverse cultures and encourage lifelong learning.
