Jazz Ensemble: Stick Figures featuring Chapman Stick virtuoso Greg Howard

The UVA Jazz Ensemble inaugurates the New Year with its Winter Concert on February 25th, 2012, by presenting Stick Figures featuring Chapman Stick virtuoso Greg Howard. 

Greg Howard and Jazz Ensemble Director John D’earth have collaborated for years and are close friends.  Greg has produced many projects for D’earth including CDs by the Thompson D’earth Band which D’earth has co-led with his wife, songwriter/vocalist Dawn Thompson and an as-yet unreleased recording with legendary drummer, Bob Moses.

Greg has given many listeners their first taste of The Chapman Stick. This innovative electric stringed instrument employs the Free Hands two-handed tapping method created by Stick inventor and builder Emmett Chapman in the late 60's. Each hand plays its own part on the strings, tapping and holding notes independently for a full keyboard-like style, but with all the expressiveness and timbrel colorations of a stringed instrument. Bass, melody, counterpoint and chords are all simultaneously possible in the hands of one musician.  With over one thousand performances in front of diverse audiences (jazz and rock festivals, concerts and clubs, college music series, live radio concerts, street performances) and twelve recordings under his belt, Greg has made the instrument his own.

The Jazz Ensemble will perform several originals by Greg Howard as well as some classic jazz charts including Thad Jones’ composition Backbone, D’earth’s arrangement of Charles Mingus’ Reincarnation of a Lovebird, and Chick Corea’s fusion classic, 5OO Miles High.

The band will present its signature high energy sound spear-headed by their lead brassmen, trumpeter Jason Wang and trombonist Cameron Williams.  Featured soloists include pianist Nathan Hittle, guitarist Ian Dansey, saxophonists Matt Jungclaus, Gretchen Mickelson, and Jack Irby, Christopher Muir on the bass, and Kendrick Smith on the drums.

On Saturday, April 28^th, the Jazz Ensemble will bring another unusual jazz instrument to The Old Cabell stage when they present rising vibraphone star Warren Wolf.  Mr. Wolf, who plays vibes, drums and piano, and composes, has been garnering critical raves for his performances with Christian McBride, Mulgrew Miller, and other jazz luminaries.  He will also present a master class that will be free and open to the public.

The Jazz Ensemble’s February 25^th Winter Concert, featuring Chapman Stickist Greg Howard, begins at 8:00 P.M. in Old Cabell Auditorium. Tickets are $10 adults, $5 students, free for UVa students who reserve in advance. To purchase tickets, visit the Arts Box Office at www.artsboxoffice.virginia.edu or call 434.924.3376 This is an ART$ event.

Click here to add this event to your Google Calendar:

Listen to WTJU interviewwith Greg Howard and John D'earth.

Check out Greg Howard's website, and see him perform with John D'earth in this video: