Cal Poly’s University Jazz Bands are presenting the Cal Poly Fall Jazz Concert this Friday in the Alex and Faye Spanos Theatre.
“Two big bands and two combos will present “a fresh and spontaneous approach to jazz, America’s great original art form,” according to a press release. The University Jazz Bands No. 1 and No. 2 and the Cal Poly Jazz Combo will perform an eclectic mix of jazz standards and modern compositions.
“If you close your eyes and listen to student vocalist Matt Donner sing Sinatra’s signature tune, ‘I’ve Got You Under My Skin,’ you’ll almost believe that it’s Frank singing,” said Paul Rinzler, director of jazz studies at Cal Poly, in a press release. “We will also evoke the memory of Lucille Ball by playing the theme song from her legendary TV show ‘I Love Lucy.'”
A recreation of one of Miles Davis’ masterpieces, “Boplicity,” will also be performed.
The University Jazz Bands are usually comprised of about 20 students from various majors who participate in a one-unit jazz band class that holds a concert at the end of every quarter.
The bands regularly perform at swing dances on campus. The University Jazz Band No. 1 has been professionally contracted to perform at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee (the world’s largest jazz festival), the San Jose Jazz Society’s Sunday jazz series, a Santa Barbara swing dance series, U.C. Berkeley’s Pacific Coast Collegiate Jazz Festival, the Morro Bay Jazz Festival, the Jazz Jubilee in Pismo Beach, and as an opening act for comedian Bob Newhart, according to the program’s Web site.
Tickets for the 8 p.m. concert are $10 for the general public, $8 for senior citizens and Jazz Federation members, and $6 for students with a PolyCard.
They are on sale at the Performing Arts Ticket Office from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. To order by phone, call 756-2787.
The Friday concert is sponsored by the music department, the College of Liberal Arts and the Instructionally Related Activities program. For more information, call the music department at 756-2406.