December 4, 2009

 

Contacts:

Department of Music, 657-2350
Dan Carter, University Relations, 657-2269

 

Free concert presented Tuesday, Dec. 8 at noon

 

MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES 鈥� Anyone looking for a little holiday warmth next week can find plenty with some hot jazz served up by the Montana State University Billings jazz ensemble with a special lunch-hour concert. 

 

The ensemble, directed by Jim Robertson, will present its fall semester concert on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 12:20 p.m. in the dining facility at the MSU Billing Student Union Building. The concert is free and the public is invited to attend.

 

The concert will include 鈥淪trollin鈥� with Sammy鈥� by Paul Baker; 鈥淪hiny Stockings鈥� by Frank Foster; 鈥� Now鈥檚 the Time鈥� by Charlie Parker; 鈥淭he Chant鈥�  by Victor  Feldman; 鈥淣ardis鈥� by Miles Davis; 鈥淎 Crazy Little Thing Called Love鈥� by Freddy Mercury; and 鈥淎 Band鈥檚 Gotta Do What a Band鈥檚 Gotta Do鈥� by Paul Clark.

 

Featured soloists will include alto saxophonist Jenae Murphy; baritone saxophonist Mary Ryan; pianists Alyssa Conard and Dr. Jimmy Gray; trumpeters Mark Fenderson and Adam Wetzel;  trombonists Chris Harper and Mike Kemper; bassist Elliott Cross; and guitarist Ron Dorado.     

 

Following are the members of the MSU Billings jazz ensemble, their home towns and their majors:

  • Elliot Cross, bass, of Glendive, is a music education major
  • Alyssa Conard, piano, of Shepherd, is a psychology major
  • Ron Dorado, guitar, from Billings, is a music education major
  • Ethan Gray, set and percussion, of Billings, is a percussion performance major
  • Dr. Jimmy Gray, piano, of Billings, is a local musician and emergency room physician
  • Chris Harper, trombone, is from Billings and is a music education major
  • Mike Kemper, trombone, from Roundup, is an elementary education major
  • Jenay Murphy, alto sax, of Glendive, is a music education major
  • Mary Ryan, baritone sax, from Laurel, is a music education major
  • Michael Spence, set and percussion, from Shepherd, is a health and human performance major
  • Kirk Visser, trombone, from Shepherd, is a music education major
  • Cody Wahrman, tenor sax, from Townsend, is a music education major
  • Melody Wittman, trumpet, from Worden, is a pre-nursing major
  • Adam Wetzel, trumpet, of Billings, is a music education major

MSU Billings faculty members who will play with the Jazz Ensemble are:

  • Dr. Gary Behm, Alto Sax
  • Dr. Mark Fenderson, Trumpet
  • Dr. Jim Robertson, Trombone

For more information, please call the MSU Billings Music Department at 657-2350.