Guest flutist and bassist Jill Allen will join the Syracuse University Jazz Ensemble and Windjammer for an evening of jazz at 8 p.m. Nov. 19 in the Rose and Jules R. Setnor Auditorium in SU's Crouse College. The concert is part of the Setnor Tuesday Concert series and is free and open to the public.
Allen will perform three compositions with the SU Jazz Ensemble, which will be directed by Joe Riposo and John Coggolia-"Blues for the Cause" and "Song for my Brother," composed and arranged by Riposo; and "She's Gone" by Chuck Mangione, arranged by Ray Brown. The Jazz Ensemble will also perform a number of jazz standards, such as "Cruisin' For A Blueson" composed by Andy Weiner and arranged by Peter Blair; "Shiny Stockings," composed and arranged by Frank Foster; and "But Beautiful," composed by Jimmy Van Heusen and arranged by Bill Holman.
Windjammer, SU's vocal jazz ensemble, will perform a variety of pieces under the direction of Tricia Oney, including "Stormy Weather," composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim and arranged by Anita Kerr; "Straighten Up and Fly Right," composed by Nat Cole and Irving Mills and arranged by Kirby Shaw; and "Pages," composed and arranged by Bill DiCosimo.
Allen is a flutist, bassist, teacher and clinician living in the New York area. A graduate of the University of Northern Colorado, she also holds degrees from the University of Minnesota and the Eastman School of Music. She was the recipient of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to perform and teach in Kansas. She has released two CDs, which feature her as flutist. Allen is also bassist and co-producer of Gary Wofsey and his Jazz Orchestra and Quintet. She performed and adjudicated at the Wichita Jazz Festival in April 2002, where she played bass with pianist Dan Haerle.
The SU Jazz Ensemble has performed at the New York State Inter-Collegiate Jazz Festival, and the International Association of Jazz Educators (N.Y.S.) Festival as well as in special local jazz festivals. The ensemble has also performed in concert with the New York University Jazz Ensemble and was the featured band at the International Association of Jazz Educators (N.Y.S. Unit) Jazz Festival.
Windjammer is a 12-voice mixed vocal ensemble that performs at festivals, concerts, clinics, schools, colleges and clubs throughout the Northeast. In 2002, Windjammer was invited to perform live on Central New York's only jazz radio station-WAER Jazz 88-and received such a warm response that they were invited back one month later for a reprise performance. Windjammer specializes in swing, Latin, bebop, jazz ballads and improvisation.
