(Posted November 16, 2015)

The Jazz Ensemble will perform in concert at 3 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 22, in Rosenberger Auditorium in the Halbritter Center for the Performing Arts on the Juniata campus.
The Jazz Ensemble will perform in concert at 3 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 22, in Rosenberger Auditorium in the Halbritter Center for the Performing Arts on the Juniata campus.

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- The Juniata College Jazz Ensemble will play classic jazz songs ranging from Duke Ellington to Herbie Hancock in concert at 3 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 22, in Rosenberger Auditorium in the Halbritter Center for the Performing Arts on the Juniata campus.

Tickets are $5 and admission is free for children under age 18 or Juniata students with current ID. The jazz ensemble is directed by Jordan Canner, lecturer in music at Juniata and director of bands and music teacher at Huntingdon Area High School.

The band will play some classic jazz standards, such as "Down for Double," which was written by Freddie Green, a guitarist who performed for almost 50 years with the Count Basie band. The song was made famous in a vocal version recorded by Mel Torme

The Alan Baylock composition, "Two Seconds to Midnight," is written for a big band. The composer is a native of central Pennsylvania and graduated from Bshop Carroll High School in Ebensburg, Pa. Baylock is the leader of the Alan Baylock Jazz Orchestra and is the chief arranger for the Airmen of Note, the U.S. Air Force jazz group.

"The Shadow of Your Smile," written by Johnny Mandel, was written for the forgettable film "The Sandpiper," but went on to win an Oscar for Best Song in 1965. The song has become a pop standard and a jazz staple.

Herbie Hancock, one of the top composers in jazz and a nonpareil pianist, wrote "Watermelon Man" as a hard bop arrangement, but Cuban percussionist Mongo Santamaria recorded it as Latin jazz and had a Top 10 pop hit. Hancock later rerecorded the piece as a fusion classic for the album "Headhunters."

Duke Ellington, wrote hundred's of jazz standards, but "Don't Get Around Much Any More" was originally written as an instrumental in 1940. Later, lyricist Bob Russell added lyrics and the song became a hit for several singers, including Sam Cooke, Willie Nelson and the Ink Spots.

The jazz band also will play "Just Friends," by John Klenner, which was written in 1930 as a big band arrangement. It later became a big hit for 1930s singer Russ Columbo.
The Jazz Ensemble members are as follows:
Alto Sax: Matthew Alexander, a freshman from Greencastle, Pa., and Carly Hafer, a junior from Greencastle, Pa.

Tenor Sax: Kate Bock, a sophomore from Warriors Mark, Pa., and Alex Rothstein, a community member from Huntingdon, Pa.

Baritone Sax: Kayla Morgan, a senior from Mapleton Depot, Pa.

Trombone: Joel Canner, a senior from State College, Pa.; Jared Flick a senior from Richfield, Pa.; Maria Greenler, a freshman from Mars, Pa.; Faith Thoman, a junior from Thomasville, Pa.; and Dennis Wilt, a sophomore from Altoona, Pa.

Trumpet: Jonathan Basom, a community member from Huntingdon; David Dunlap, a community member from Huntingdon; Julian Groenendaal, a community member from Huntingdon; and Daniel McClure, a community member from Huntingdon.

Guitar: Joshua Katz, a sophomore from Somerset, Pa.

Piano: Evan Quinter a freshman from, Allentown, Pa.

Bass: Rebecca Katz, a junior from Somerset, Pa., and Ian-Michael Taylor-Benjamin, a freshman from Pittsburgh, Pa.

Drums: Taylor Hohenstein, a junior from Charlottesville, Va., and Dane Sapienza, a sophomore from Pittsburgh, Pa.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.