Fall Big Band Showcase: UMD Jazz Ensemble, UMD Jazz Lab Band and University Jazz Band
Fall Big Band Showcase: UMD Jazz Ensemble, UMD Jazz Lab Band and University Jazz Band
About the Event
Mark Williams, music director
Tim Powell, director, UMD Lab Band
Bryan Mills, director, UMD Jazz Band
Clarence Banks, trombone
Grant Langford, saxophone
Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating the music and legacy of Count Basie, one of the most influential bandleaders in jazz history. For their Fall Big Band Showcase, UMD Jazz Studies presents a performance paying homage to Basie's joyful swing and timeless sound. This program will feature special guests Clarence Banks, a 40-year member of the Count Basie Orchestra, and Grant Langford, a former member of the orchestra who is now a featured artist with The Airmen of Note.
About Jazz Ensembles at UMD
The School of Music’s jazz ensembles are composed of more than 100 students. The premier UMD Jazz Ensemble frequently performs at many off-campus events including the Maryland Music Educators Association annual conference and various local jazz festivals. Each year, the UMD Jazz Ensemble is one of three elite bands that performs at the Calvin Jones Big Band Jazz Festival—one of the most anticipated events on Washington, D.C.’s jazz calendar and frequently broadcast on the BET Network. Combos and big bands also perform a variety of outreach concerts at venues including the National Archives, public libraries, the National Building Museum, area schools and at campus events such as Maryland Day, galas and commencement activities.
