Eastern Utah Wind Symphony’s “Swing Into Spring” April 21

The Eastern Utah Wind Symphony, a college-community ensemble at College of Eastern Utah, will present the final concert of its 2004-05 season on Thursday, April 21, at 7:30 p.m. in the Price Civic Auditorium. The program, titled “Swing Into Spring,” will offer listeners an entertaining mix of jazz music – ballads, blues, standards, and more.
To open the concert, the Wind Symphony will perform George Gershwin’s “Strike Up The Band,” a rousing tune from the 1940 film of the same name. Next, will be “Pavanne,” a jazz-laced movement drawn from Morton Gould’s Symphonette No.  2. To conclude the opening portion of the program, the Wind Symphony will present Hambone, a recent composition by contemporary American composer Libby Larsen that blends interesting percussion and hand-clapping effects with elements of early jazz and rock-and-roll.
The middle portion of the concert will feature a jazz combo comprised of Greg Benson, trombone; Paul Brown, trumpet; Jim Dart, drums; Jake Madrid, guitar; Brian Peterson, saxophone; and David Wheeler, bass. The combo will offer a swing tune – “Medium Rare,” a beautiful ballad – “When Sunny Gets Blue,” and a John Coltrane classic – “Blue Trane.”
To conclude the concert, the Wind Symphony will pay tribute to two late, great American big band leaders – Count Basie and Duke Ellington. A Tribute to Count Basie includes four Basie signature pieces – “All of Me,” “Corner Pocket,” “Li’l Darlin'” and “April in Paris.” Likewise, Duke Ellington! includes four well-known standards – “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” “Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me,” “Sophisticated Lady,” and “It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing.”
The Eastern Utah Wind Symphony’s April  21 concert is sponsored by Price Culture Connection. Admission is free.