2008 Woodie Awards
MTSU jazz studies revives Duke Ellington
John Daniel
Issue date: 2/16/06 Section: Exposure
Last Thursday, MTSU's jazz studies program heated up the Wright Music Building with an unforgettable night in jazz. Guest Conductor, Dr. John Wilson, impressively arranged "The Sacred Music of Duke Ellington," performed by the Middle Tennessee Jazz Orchestra as well as the MTSU Schola Cantorum.
The musical performance started nicely with Ellington's Selection "In the Beginning God." This tune progressed smoothly and featured the sweet low tones of Denis Solee's baritone saxophone, along with the lead tenor voice of Stephen Smith.
Next cam the lovely soprano voice of Sandra Dudley to sing "Heaven." Also singing soprano, Abbey Burke was a crowd favorite. She received a well-deserved standing ovation as she soulfully sang "Tell Me It's the Truth."
Don Aliquo, Matt Davich and Robbie Shankle each demonstrated their solo talents from the woodwind section. Roy Agee, who Aliquo said was the "secret weapon" of the Jazz Orchestra, fired things up with a powerful trombone solo.
Even the crowd seemed to host some special guests on this jazzy night in Murfreesboro. Saxophonist Jeff Coffin and band mate Futureman from Bela Fleck and the Flecktones sat in the crowd.
The musical performance started nicely with Ellington's Selection "In the Beginning God." This tune progressed smoothly and featured the sweet low tones of Denis Solee's baritone saxophone, along with the lead tenor voice of Stephen Smith.
Next cam the lovely soprano voice of Sandra Dudley to sing "Heaven." Also singing soprano, Abbey Burke was a crowd favorite. She received a well-deserved standing ovation as she soulfully sang "Tell Me It's the Truth."
Don Aliquo, Matt Davich and Robbie Shankle each demonstrated their solo talents from the woodwind section. Roy Agee, who Aliquo said was the "secret weapon" of the Jazz Orchestra, fired things up with a powerful trombone solo.
Even the crowd seemed to host some special guests on this jazzy night in Murfreesboro. Saxophonist Jeff Coffin and band mate Futureman from Bela Fleck and the Flecktones sat in the crowd.
