Almost There, a 2022 Vegas Records CD release, highlights milestone student achievements of our 2021-2022 UNLV School of Music, Division of Jazz and Commercial Music. Jazz Ensemble I, winner of the 2022 DownBeat Magazine Student Music Award (SMA) for Graduate College Large Ensemble Asynchronous Outstanding Performance and directed by professors Dave Loeb and Nathan Tanouye, opens disc one with Ricardo Arana’s exciting original, Abundance, with ebullient solos by pianist Micah Smith, alto saxophonist Ian Cruz, trombonist Kirby Galbraith, Harrison Collard, on trumpet, and Jakubu Griffin, on drums. In the spring, Jazz Ensemble I performed at the second annual Jack Rudin Jazz Competition at Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC), in New York City, among ten of the most highly regarded university jazz programs in the nation that were invited by jazz legend and JALC orchestra director, Wynton Marsalis. We included our selections from this unforgettable performance beginning with 2/3’s Adventure, composed by the bassist from the JALC Orchestra, Carlos Henriquez, featuring fantastic solos from Patrick Hogan, winner of outstanding pianist and composer at this event, f j Rodriguez, on alto sax, tenor saxophonist Eddy Sarabia, Kurt Tumbagahan, on trumpet and bassist Ed Lacala. Appassionata, spotlights stellar vocals by the composer, Hogan, with sensitive solos by violinist Lauren Cordell and Max Marquis, on baritone sax. Duke Ellington’s classic, Rockin’ in Rhythm, that was mixed by student Keegan Carter, who won the 2022 DownBeat Magazine SMA for Undergraduate College Best Engineered Recording, concludes the Rudin set with authentic improvisations from Hogan, on piano, clarinetist Chris Ellis, trombonist Gio Lacala, Dan Foster, on lead trumpet, and trumpeters Harrison Collard and Aries Harper. Laura Taylor, a faithful supporter of our program, offers her beautiful composition and wonderful vocal talents on Spellbound, arranged by Tanouye, a brilliant orchestrator, with a world-class flugelhorn solo by JALC orchestra member and UNLV alum, Kenny Rampton. Nous Avons Changé, by Rodriguez, provides a swinging mid-tempo tune with great improvisations from the composer, on alto sax, trombonist Kirby Galbraith, Sarabia, on tenor sax, and Collard, on trumpet. UNLV alumni and 2022 Grammy nominee, Rachel Eckroth, shared her interesting composition, Suburbia, with spirited solos from Jaren Glick, on guitar, and Collard, on trumpet. You’re Gonna Get Me In Trouble, with delightful vocals by the composer, Hogan, and tasty piano fills by Smith, and Molly Redfield’s unique treatment of Ellington’s poignant ballad, Solitude, with exquisite solos from Marquis, on bari sax, and Redfield, on bass, follow and frame the magnificent title track, Almost There, composed by Arana, with stunning improvisations from pianist Smith, Rodriguez, on alto sax, trombonist Gio Lacala, Tumbahagan, on trumpet, and Sarabia, on tenor sax. The Joe Williams Scholarship Combo finishes disc one with three contrasting tunes that include powerful solos from all of the gifted members of this acclaimed group. Destino De La Suerte, by bassist Carter, winner of the 2022 DownBeat Magazine SMA for Undergraduate College Small Ensemble Composition Outstanding Performance, Money, written by Moonchild and skillfully arranged by saxophonist Rodriguez and Hogan’s insightful The Eighty-Five are a testament to the prolific creative output from these truly passionate students.
Dear Readers and Listeners,
I am very proud to bring you this installment of the great UNLV Division of Jazz and Commercial Music. How fortunate we are to perform and record in regular ways again!
This year the Latin Jazz Ensemble had two very different semesters. One with a five horn section culminating in a fabulous performance at the JEN convention in Dallas in January, and in the Spring it was all small group work. Here are our four musical offerings:
Oh, What a Day started life as Retrospectivo, as it is Inspired by Brazilian Jazz of the forming decade of the 70’s. When we played in Europe last year with my Quartet featuring Pascale Elia, she added these cool lyrics and Lara Vivian Smith sounds great on it. The horn arrangement was done by our former member, the brilliant Carlos Mata- Alvarez. It’s wonderful when music comes full circle.
Dindi showcases the lyrical soprano of Kaylin Richards and is a masterpiece of songwriting by Antonio Carlos Jobim. This version features an arrangement of our saxophonist Ed Sarabia.
Maria Cervantes, penned by Puerto Rican Piano virtuoso Noro Morales is arranged for a Charanga ensemble. It features our violins Lauren Cordell and Aoliani Aguirre in a great solo exchange and Amy Crosley jumped from behind the drums to the vibes to take the helm of this arrangement in perfect fashion.
Emily’s Dream is composed by the very talented composer and pianist Alex Clements. He crafted a melody that stays with you and lingers long after the last note. It features a cool percussion intro by Pepe Jimenez, and Gary Fowler shines with a beautiful vocal solo and harmonies.
It was an absolute joy to lead the ensemble and having the great Pepe Jimenez co-directing and helping me in the Spring.
Uli Geissendoerfer, director of the Latin Jazz Ensemble 2010-2022 Founder and CEO Vegas Records
credits
released August 20, 2022
Jazz Ensemble 1
Directed by Dave Loeb & Nathan Tanouye
Saxes/Woodwinds:
F J Rodriguez (lead), Ian Cruz, Edward Sarabia, Chris Ellis, Max Marquis
Trumpets:
Dan Foster (lead),
Kurt Tumbagahan (lead), Ricardo Arana, Harrison Collard, Aries Harper
Rhythm Section:
Trombones:
Giovanni Lacala (lead), Zach Guzman-Mejia, Kirby Galbraith,
Scott Odou
Horn in F:
Casey Davis, Hannah Johnson
Patrick Hogan & Micah Smith - piano, Jesse Rosenberg & Jaren Glick - guitar, Amy Crosley, Zach Guzman-Mejia, & Jakubu Griffin - drums, Keegan Carter, Molly Redfield, & Ed Lacala - bass, Amy Crosley - vibes, Lauren Cordell - violin
The Joe Williams Every Day
Scholarship Combo
Directed by Dave Loeb
Directed by Dave Loeb & Nathan Tanouye
Patrick Hogan & Micah Smith - piano, Amy Crosley & Zach Guzman-Mejia - drums, Keegan Carter - bass, F J Rodriguez - alto sax, Edward Sarabia - tenor sax, Harrison Collard - trumpet, Kirby Galbraith - trombone, Gary Fowler - vocals
Latin Jazz Ensemble
Directed by Uli Geissendoerfer
Contemporary Jazz Ensemble
Directed by Julian Tanaka
Rachel Gamberg & Amanda Ketterer - vocals, Aolani Aguirre - violin, Robert Mitchell - winds, Yoni Kessler - alto sax, Ian Cruz & Cason Allen - tenor sax, Cole Henriques - bari sax, Kirby Galbraith - trombone, Surafael Tamre - trumpet, Caleb Clark & Sergio Gamboa - piano, Ed Lacala & Sam Knapp - bass, Amy Crosley - drums
Vocal Jazz Ensemble 1: Studio Scarlet
Directed by Lara Vivian Smith
Zoe Conrad, Shaddai Johnson, Patricia Thomas,
Gibson Green, Thomas Bradley Calvin, Gary Fowler - Vocals
Cameron Jones - piano, Sam Knapp - bass, Russell Leonard - drums
Tracks:
Jazz Ensemble 1
5:17 Abundance
composed and arranged by Ricardo Arana
Soloists: Micah Smith (piano), Edward Sarabia (tenor sax), Kirby Galbraith (trombone), Harrison Collard (trumpet), Jakubu Griffin (drums)
5:40 2/3's Adventure
composed and arranged Carlos Henriquez
Soloists: Patrick Hogan (piano), F J Rodriguez (alto sax), Edward Sarabia (tenor sax), Kurt Tumbagahan (trumpet), Ed Lacala (bass)
4:42 Appassionata
composed and arranged by Patrick Hogan
Soloists: Patrick Hogan (vocals), Micah Smith (piano), Max Marquis (bari sax), Lauren Cordell (violin)
4:19 Rockin' In Rhythm
composed by Duke Ellington transcribed by Brent Wallarab
Soloists: Patrick Hogan (piano), Chris Ellis (clarinet), Giovanni Lacala (trombone), Gary Fowler (vocals), Dan Foster (trumpet), Harrison Collard (trumpet), Aries Harper (trumpet)
5:42 Spellbound
composed by Laura Taylor arranged by Nathan Tanouye
Soloists: Laura Taylor (vocals), Kenny Rampton (flugelhorn)
6:34 Nous Avons Changé
composed and arranged by F J Rodriguez
Soloists: F J Rodriguez (alto sax), Zach Guzman-Mejia (trombone), Edward Sarabia (tenor sax), Harrison Collard (trumpet), Amy Crosley (drums)
7:00 Suburbia
composed and arranged by Rachel Eckroth
Soloists: Jaren Glick (guitar), Harrison Collard (trumpet), Amy Crosley (drums)
3:43 You're Gonna Get Me In Trouble
Soloists: Patrick Hogan (vocals), Micah Smith (piano)
composed and arranged by Patrick Hogan
4:47 Solitude
composed Duke Ellington arranged by Molly Redfield
Soloists: Max Marquis (bari sax), Molly Redfield (bass)
7:45 Almost There
composed and arranged by Ricardo Arana
Soloists: Micah Smith (piano), F J Rodriguez (alto sax), Giovanni Lacala (trombone), Kurt Tumbagahan (trumpet), Edward Sarabia (tenor sax), Cole Henriques (EWI)
The Joe Williams Every Day Foundation Scholarship Combo
Directed by Dave Loeb
3:55 Destino de la Suerte
composed and arranged by Keegan Carter
6:07 Money
composed by Moonchild arranged by F J Rodriguez
Soloists: Harrison Collard (flugelhorn), Kirby Galbraith (trombone), Patrick Hogan (piano), Amy Crosley (drums)
Soloists: Gary Fowler (vocals), F J Rodriguez (flute), Harrison Collard (flugelhorn), Patrick Hogan (piano), Kirby Galbraith
4:58 The Eighty-Five
composed and arranged by Patrick Hogan
Soloists: Patrick Hogan (piano), Kirby Galbraith (trombone), Harrison Collard (trumpet) F J Rodriguez (alto sax)
Latin Jazz Ensemble
Directed by Uli Geissendoerfer
7:38 Oh, What A Day
composed by Uli Geissendoerfer, Lyrics by Pascale Elia and arranged by Uli Geissendoerfer and Carlos Mata-Alvarez
Soloists: Micah Smith (piano), Lara Vivian Smith (vocals), Lauren Cordell (violin), Edward Sarabia (tenor sax), F J Rodriguez (alto sax), Amy Crosley (drums)
6:17 Dindi
Soloists: Kennedy McClendon (guitar), Kailyn Richards (vocals), F J Rodriguez (flute)
composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim arranged by Edward Sarabia
6:29 Maria Cervantes
composed by Noro Morales arranged by Amy Crosley, Pepe Jimenez, & Uli Geissendoerfer
Soloists: Keegan Carter (bass) Amy Crosley (drums) Aolani Aguirre (violin), Lauren Cordell (violin)
6:26 Emily's Dream
composed and arranged by Alex Clements arranged by Clements, Jimenez & Geissendoerfer
Soloists: Gary Fowler (vocals), Kennedy McClendon (guitar), Micah Smith (piano), Zach Guzman-Mejia (cajon), Amy Crosley (drums)
Contemporary Jazz Ensemble
Directed by Julian Tanaka
5:30 The Only Thing I Would Wish For
composed by Angela Bofill arranged by Amanda Ketterer
Soloists: Amanda Ketterer (vocals), Surafael Tamre (trumpet), Kirby Galbraith (trombone), Robert Mitchell (flute)
5:03 Enlightenment
composed by Sun Ra arranged by Surafael Tamre & Sergio Gamboa
Soloists: Ian Cruz (tenor sax), Sergio Gamboa (piano), Surafael Tamre (trumpet)
4:20 Baby Carrots
composed by Jacob Mann arranged by Robert Mitchell
Soloists: Kirby Galbraith (trombone), Aolani Aguirre (violin), Robert Mitchell (clarinet)
6:41 For Jan
composed by Kenny Wheeler arranged by Kirby Galbraith
Soloists: Cole Henriques (bari sax), Kirby Galbraith (trombone), Cason Allen (tenor sax)
Vocal Jazz Ensemble 1: Studio Scarlet
Directed by Lara Vivian Smith
2:59 Words
3:34 Peace
Soloists: Zoe Conrad (soprano), Thomas Bradley Calvin (tenor)
The Joe Williams Scholarship
composed and arranged by Anders Edenroth composed by Horace Silver arranged by Michelle Weir
Jack Rudin Combo
Directed by Dave Loeb
8:56 The St. Vitus Dance
composed by Horace Silver Arranged by Patrick Hogan
Soloists: Gary Fowler (vocals), F J Rodriguez (alto sax), Kriby Galbraith (trombone), Harrison Collard (trumpet), Edward Sarabia (tenor sax), Patrick Hogan (piano)
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