UC San Diego Jazz Ensemble (MUS 95JC) - Spring 2021 Showcase

The MUS 95JC Jazz Ensemble directed by UC San Diego Music faculty Kamau Kenyatta presents their Spring 2021 Showcase! 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗠: 00:00 "𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀" Though it might have originally been about a lost hard drive, “Lost in Paris” and its sister song “Before Paris” have taken on deeper meanings since their 2018 release. From their funky drums to the intricate weave of guitar lines, both songs capture the listener’s attention and make them start to groove. Composed by: Tom Misch, Jamie Houghton, Jessica Carmondy Nathan, and Goldlink, 2018 Arranged by: PlayLikeTheGreats and Nolan Fewell Mixing and video editing: Patrick Paxson Voice: Clara Pierone Trumpet: Gino Calgaro Keys: Sinclair Williams Guitar: Jonah Esser Drums: Nolan Fewell [UC San Diego alumni] Electric bass: Patrick Paxson 06:00 "𝗘𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻" “Elevation” is a piece that was produced by the jazz sextet Out Of The Blue for their second album, titled Inside Track. The piece is written in 3/4 time and uses uncommon harmonies and rhythmic figures that let the soloists stretch their creativities in new and different ways. Composed by: Out Of The Blue (OTB), 1986 Arranged by: Gino Calgaro Mixing and video editing: Gino Calgaro Alto sax: Reed Rouland Tenor sax: Christian DeLost Flugelhorn: Gino Calgaro Keyboard: Sinclair Williams Guitar: Zeju Zheng Bass: Sean Park Drums: Sean Willett 16:01 "𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗼 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲" “Afro Blue” was released in 2012 as the second track on Robert Glasper's album Black Radio. Soon after, the album was awarded the Grammy for Best R&B Album in 2013. Although initially listed as a jazz standard, this rendition features vastly talented R&B and Neo-Soul artists like Erykah Badu on lead vocals, and Chris Dave on drums. Composed by: Mongo Santamaria, 1959 (Robert Glasper version, 2012) Arranged by: Sean Willett Mixing and video editing: Sean Willett Voice: Alexandra Persia Soltan-Kashefi Flute: Patrick Paxson (solo) Piano: Sinclair Williams (solo) Guitar: Jonah Esser (solo) Bass: Owen Cruise Drums: Sean Willett 22:00 "𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁" Our guitarist Zeju Zheng has composed and arranged many tunes for our ensemble performances. In “Indifferent” he used a quartet instrumentation. Composed by: Zeju Zheng, 2021 Mixing: Garvin Singh Video editing: Patrick Paxson Tenor sax: Christian DeLost Guitar: Zeju Zheng Drums: Hyunwoo Shin Upright bass: Sean Park 28:17 "𝗜𝘁 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗕𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲" In this cover, the UC San Diego Jazz Ensemble adds their own spin to Rickie Lee Jones’ "It Must Be Love" with different instrumentation and a slower tempo. Composed by: Rickie Lee Jones, 1984 Mixing and video editing: Clara Pierone with help from Nick Pierone Voice: Clara Pierone Piano: Sinclair Williams Guitar: Jonah Esser (solo) Drums: Cate Murphy Electric bass: Gino Calgaro 33:49 "𝗘𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻" Gypsy jazz, also known as “hot club-style” jazz, is a unique sub-genre with French influences. The style is perhaps exemplified best by none other than guitarist and composer Django Reinhardt. Paying tribute to Reinhardt, the gypsy jazz group Pearl Django is an influential part of the Seattle music scene. This song, “Endless Fields of Green,” comes from their 2012 album Eleven. We extend our thanks to Pearl Django for providing their arrangement for us to play. Composed by: Troy Chapman, 2012 Mixing: Patrick Paxson and Owen Cruise Video editing: Owen Cruise Cello: Pete Jacobson (solo) [guest artist] Accordion: Alex Arango (solo) [UC San Diego alumni] Guitar: Jonah Esser, Zeju Zheng (solos) Drums: Sean Willett (solo) Upright bass: Owen Cruise (solo) 41:00 "𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝘄𝗯𝗼𝘆" The movie Midnight Cowboy first appeared in 1969 starring Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman as Joe Buck and Ratso Rizzo, two hustlers trying to survive in New York City. Considered an American classic, this movie received three Academy Awards and the main theme, “Midnight Cowboy”, received a Grammy for Best Instrumental Theme. This award winning theme was composed by John Barry and was originally performed on harmonica by Toots Thielemans, a highly accomplished harmonica player, guitarist, and whistler who you may also recognize from the original Sesame Street theme. Composed by: John Barry, 1969 Arranged by: Sean Park Mixing: Garvin Singh Video editing: Owen Cruise Alto sax: Reed Rouland (solo) Guitar: Zeju Zheng (solo) Drums: Cate Murphy Upright bass: Sean Park 45:47 "𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗴/𝗦𝘁. 𝗗𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘀" “Strasbourg/St. Denis” was released on Roy Hargrove’s 2008 album Earfood. Recorded by his famous quintet, the jazz trumpeter takes elements from pop and R&B to bring a fresh sound to the mix. With a driving funk groove, one can’t help but bop their head listening to this infectiously happy song. Composed by: Roy Hargrove, 2008 Mixing and video editing: Sean Willett Alto sax: Reed Rouland (solo) Trumpet: Gino Calgaro (solo) Piano: Sinclair Williams (solo) Drums: Cate Murphy Upright bass: Owen Cruise UC San Diego Jazz Ensemble (MUS 95JC) Directed by Kamau Kenyatta Recorded in Winter Quarter 2021