Eastern Utah bands swing into spring

Carbon School District and College of Eastern Utah will join musical forces to present a combined concert, “An Evening of Swing,” by Eastern Utah Jazz, CEU’s college-community big band, and the Helper Junior High School Jazz Band on Thursday, Feb. 23, at 7:30 p.m. in the CEU Geary Theatre. The program features separate performances by each group, as well as a grand finale with all of the musicians performing together.
Opening the concert will be the Helper Jazz Band, comprised of 15 eighth and ninth grade students who auditioned for the privilege of playing in the group. The five selections the band will play include, “Uncle Milo’s Sideshow” by Dean Sorensen; a 1960’s hit, “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” by Josef Zawinul; an old favorite, “My Funny Valentine” by Rodgers and Hart; a song made famous by Carlos Santana, “Evil Ways” by Sunny Henry; and a jazz classic, “Tuxedo Junction” by Feyne, Hawkins, Johnson and Dash.
Next on the concert will be Eastern Utah Jazz, a traditional big band comprised of talented college and community musicians. Several pieces will be heard on this part of the program: a 1960’s song later popularized by the Manhattan Transfer, “Killer Joe” by Benny Golson; a Frank Sinatra favorite, “Chicago” by Fred Fisher; from the 1945 film State Fair, “It Might As Well Be Spring” by Richard Rodgers; two jazz standards, “Embraceable You” and “Wonderful” by George Gershwin; and finally, a tribute to band leader Count Basie, “One More for the Count” by Mike Lewis and “Flight of the Foo Bird” by Neal Hefti.
The concert will conclude with the Eastern Utah and Helper bands combining to perform Dean Sorensen’s blues-rock arrangement, “Jammin’ With Charlie.” Directing the evening’s performance will be Allen Hughes of Helper Junior High School and Greg Benson of College of Eastern Utah. Admission to the “An Evening of Swing” concert is free.