Get Jazzed!

No, not the Utah Jazz - the USU Jazz Ensembles' performances on April 8th, 2009! First, the USU student Jazz ensemble - with special guest trumpet virtuoso,
Byron Stripling! His resume includes performing with numerous famous orchestras all over the US, as well as voice and acting on Broadway, television and motion pictures. He has played and recorded with such bands as Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Brubeck, Carnegie Hall and the Philharmonic among many others. http://www.byronstripling.com/

His incredible talent, along with his witty sense of humor and ability to improvise with all three of the bands this evening was captivating. Next, the All Northern Jazz Ensemble - including, none other than...

Josh! (nice pic. Annie)

The All Northern Jazz ensemble is the best of high school bands from all over Northern Utah. They meet once a week to practice, and this was their chance to show their stuff! They played four toe-tappin' numbers, which I was not allowed to photo/videograph, but I did get audio of them. So, if you missed it and want to just hear them,

here are 3 of their numbers on Vimeo! (You can click to start it and just let it play in the background while you open a new window and do other stuff on your computer.) Or you can allow it to fully load, and then click a drag to sample different parts! The audio is not that great - you really just had to be there in person - but at least it gives you a sample of what it was like!

The last set of the evening was the USU Jazz Orchestra, also featuring special guest Byron Stripling! Here is more (audio only) Vimeo to check out:

This set includes the familiar "Old Devil Moon", the New Orleans flavor of "St. James Infirmary", and scat-sounds of Dizzy Gillespie's "Ooo Pa Pa Da"! Even if you don't listen to the whole clip, Byron's scat solo at the beginning and end of the last number are well worth it! It was a family evening to remember - including Amy!