Jazz Bands to Perform ‘Autumn Leaves’ Concert in Fall Showcase

Jazz Bands to Perform ‘Autumn Leaves’ Concert in Fall Showcase

04/10/2021

JONESBORO — The A-State Department of Music and Jazz Studies will present “Autumn Leaves,” the annual showcase of fall jazz at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 12 at Arkansas State University’s Fowler Center’s Riceland Hall.

The evening will feature performances by the two major ensembles, A-State Jazz Lab, conducted by Michael Medrick, and the first ensemble, A-State Jazz Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Ken Carroll. The program runs the gamut, from the dance band music of the legendary swing era to the fresh and exciting sounds of today’s jazz.

A-State Lab Band will open the program with a traditional blues track by Bennie Golson, arranged by Medrick, titled “Blues on My Mind.” The evening continues with “Second Wind” by Chris Clark, then “Rosa Mae”, by Mary Lou Williamson. The Lab Band set will end with another Medrick arrangement of a Shorty Rodgers piece, “Pirouette.”

After a brief change of scene, the A-State Jazz Orchestra will collaborate with vocalist Lisa Ahia on Rodgers & Hart’s classic “My Romance” and then perform an original piece by Medrick, “I Always Get the Blues from You.”

The band will be joined by trombonist Don Bowyer, a former dean of fine arts, for “Lockdown Blues,” written while in Kuala Lumpur during the pandemic. The evening will end with “Tank”, by Yoko Kanno, arranged by Dannewitz.

Admission is free for A-State students and faculty with campus ID, or $5 for others. For tickets, the A-State box office is (870) 972-2781.

For more details on the concert or any other A-State music event, one can contact the Music Department at (870) 972-2094.

The members of both groups are listed with their hometown and high school:

Jazz Lab Band

Silas Weinert-Palomino – Bloomfield, Missouri, Bloomfield High School

Illana Parker – Trumann, Trumann High School

Shannon Johnson – Batesville, Southside High School

Ryker Little – Piggott, Piggott High School

Parker Robinson – Jonesboro, Jonesboro High School

Andrew Williams – Jonesboro, Nettleton High School

Ryan Baldwin – Paragould, Greene County Technical High School

Selah Winn – Jonesboro, Jonesboro High School

Gerson Rangel – Paragould, Paragould high school

Nathaniel Kittrell – Beebe, Beebe High School

Eliecer Tamez – Jonesboro, Nettleton High School

Chris Shaw – Cabot, Cabot High School

Kaitlynn Holland – Batesville, Batesville High School

Al Clevenger – Jonesboro, Jonesboro High School

Blake Fleischmann – Little Rock, Little Rock Catholic High School

Zane Massey – Pine Bluff, White Hall High School

Cadence Patterson – Jonesboro, Nettleton High School

Tyler Chamberlain – Paragould, Paragould High School

Matt Dixon – Jonesboro, Jonesboro High School

jazz orchestra

Ethan Scurlock – Brookland, Brookland High School

Layton Sanders – Poplar Bluff, Mo., Poplar Bluff High School

Chase Hoots – Jonesboro, Westside High School

Michael Ward – Poplar Bluff, Mo., Poplar Bluff High School

Christopher Crutchfield – North Little Rock, North Little Rock High

Izak Atherton – Owensboro, Kentucky.

Emelie Fincher – Springdale, Shiloh Christian High School

Rike Robinson – Jonesboro, Nettleton High School

Lari Norwood – Paragould, Paragould High School

Cody Daughertee – Poplar Bluff, Missouri, Poplar Bluff High School

Brody King – Jonesboro, Jonesboro High School

Ethan Williamson – High School in Houston, Texas, Netherlands

Morgan Williams – Collierville, Tenn., Collierville High School

Dean MacDonald – Paragould, Greene County Technology

Al Clevenger – Jonesboro, Jonesboro High School

Josh Huffstutler – Jonesboro, Jonesboro High

Eric Watson – Jonesboro, Jonesboro High School

Gabe Waters – Bloomfield, Missouri, Bloomfield High School

Jack Ezell – Maumelle, Maumelle High School

Quentin Takacs – Bristow High School