Las Vegas, N.M. – The
Highlands University Department of Music presents the university’s Jazz
Ensemble in concert May 2 at 7 p.m. in the Plaza Hotel Ballroom on the Historic
Las Vegas Plaza.
Highlands
University music professor Edward Harrington directs the Jazz Ensemble and
plays bass and trombone for the ensemble. Music faculty member Kevin Zoernig is
the pianist and co-director for the concert.
General admission tickets for the Jazz Ensemble concert are $10.
Highlands University and other students with valid IDs are free. Harrington
said there is a 10 percent discount at the Range Cafe in the Plaza Hotel for
concert goers before and after the performance.
“Our
very special guest for this concert is Al Schackman, who began performing with
his own jazz group in Greenwich Village in the 1950s, and then became Nina
Simone’s collaborator, accompanist, musical director and arranger,” Harrington
said. “Al has been featured in numerous albums and will play guitar for the
concert. The students have enjoyed his musicality and down-to-earth, cheerful
attitude.”
Harrington
said the playlist includes a wide variety of 22 pieces such as “Dizzy
Atmosphere,” “All the Things you Are,” Gritty Gravy,” “Night and Day,” Hot
Enough,” “Afro Blue,” Swing Now Play Later,” “Boplicity,” “When I Fall in
Love,” “Signed Sealed and Delivered,” “Blue Bayou,” and “Channel One Suite.”
Highlands University music
students featured in the Jazz Ensemble include Andres Archuleta and John Ray Tafoya on trumpet; Alfredo
Mondragon and Jessica Pirkle on guitar; Ben Taylor on alto saxophone; Mighty
Williams on tenor saxophone; Martin Neddo-Roaque on alto saxophone and bass;
and Donaciano Vigil, Jovina Sandoval and Rachael McCork on percussion.
“Our students have worked
incredibly hard this year. We have soloists on their regular instruments and
also on vibraphone and piano as their second instruments. The soloists love
improvising and expressing their ideas with the backing of the rhythms section.
All of
these outstanding musicians will demonstrate their facility with their
instrument,”
Harrington said.
Harrington
said the concert features exceptional vocalists, the most ever for a Jazz
Ensemble concert.
“We’re
pleased to be featuring some talented Highlands music major vocalists including
Oksana Herrera, Cierra Gomez, Dominique García-Gallegos, and Chris Soveranez.
In addition, some of the instrumentalists will be singing vocal solos,” Harrington
said.
He
said another highlight for the concert be several pieces that Zoernig arranged.
Las Vegas
community members performing with the Jazz Ensemble include Steve Leger and
Jamie García on trumpet; Bob Henssler on alto saxophone; Mark Gillingham on
baritone saxophone; Sebastian Jaramillo on percussion; and John Seaton on
trombone. Leroy “Pato” Lucero helped rehearse the percussion students and Bruce
Holmes helped rehearse the saxophone students.
“The
Department of Music is very grateful for the valuable contributions these
community members make to the students and the quality of our concerts,”
Harrington said.