DESERVES WARM RECEPTION

DESERVES WARM RECEPTION

by Norman Warwick

You will understand it a rare occasion for me to mislay or overlook any information that lands near our editing suite. Of course, its possible I might not have noticed a previous offering, under the piles of ´work´ to be dealt with but I am pretty certain that this is a new listing that jazziz are now distributing.

The jazziz press release led us to a web site where we were welcomed to Frost Music Live, ´your main source for music entertainment, sponsored by the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami in Coral Gables. We’re less than 2 miles away from Sunset Place and Merrick Park Mall. Over 100 concerts are scheduled annually, from classical to jazz to pop and more. Intimate concert hall settings. High-quality performances. Experience top GRAMMY^®, Emmy^®, and Tony^® award-winning and nominated guest artists, faculty, students, and alumni up close as you never did before. ´

The Frost School of Music at the University of Miami is proud to present its extraordinary line-up for Frost Music Live with over 100 concerts and events happening in Coral Gables, Florida. You can choose from a selection of classical music to jazz and contemporary music to Frost Faculty Recitals and Lectures.

Frost Music Live includes the Signature Series, an unparalleled offering of concerts featuring top GRAMMY®, Emmy®, and Tony® award-winning and nominated guest artists, collaborating with the esteemed highly acclaimed Frost School of Music faculty artists and students. The Signature Series also features a few concerts, including Jazz Roots, at the Adrienne Arsht Center.

Their most ´recent presentation took place at the University of Miami Concert Hall on Wednesday 15^th September when guest bassist Christian McBride (left) played with The Frost Concert Jazz Band  and The Frost Studio Jazz Band. The bands were led by John Daversa and Etienne Charles, respectively.

Of Christian McBride Jazz Times has written that ´in his hands, an acoustic bass can shamelessly expose the human heart.´ Seven-time GRAMMY®-winning bassist Christian McBride is a force of nature. He brings virtuosic fire, relentless energy, depth, and the grounding of a seasoned journeyman. The multiple DownBeat award-winning Frost Concert Jazz Band and Frost Studio Jazz Band are renowned for their outstanding musicianship, inspired performances, soloists, and well-crafted arrangements

The next offering is scheduled for September 24^th 2021, again at 7.30 pm in the UM Gusman Concert Hall. Either live at the event or via the You Tube livestream you can explore the musical legacy of Melton Mustafa with the Frost Studio Jazz Band, The band will be joined by guest saxophonists, Melton Mustafa Jr. (right) and Jesse Jones Jr. and the ensemble will be directed by Etienne Charles.

The pre-concert talk includes Melton Mustafa Jr., Jesse Jones Jr., Tracy Fields, and Jean Caze.

On Tuesday October 12th 2021, 7:30 p.m. at the venue of UM Gusman Concert Hall The Frost Jazz Vocal Ensemble, with Kate Reid directing, will be joined by Sullivan Fortner, guest pianist Sullivan Fortune  and the excellent and exciting Cécile McLorin Salvant, as guest vocalist to join paying tribute Antonipo Carlos Jobim.   Three-time GRAMMY winner Miami native Cécile McLorin Salvant  (left) named “finest jazz singer to emerge in the last decade” (The New York Times) highlights this special evening with guest pianist Sullivan Fortner, who partnered with Salvant on the duo release The Window. The Frost Jazz Vocal Ensemble opens the concert celebrating the music of Antônio Carlos Jobim, one of the great exponents of Brazilian music and the father of the bossa nova with classics like The Girl from Ipanema and Desafinado.  

A live audience will be welcome at the following event, entitled Intersections: Exploring Visual Art through Music with The Frost Concert Jazz Band. This will take place on Tuesday November 9^th 2021 at 7.30 pm in the same venue of The UM Gusman Concert Hall.

Tuesday, November 9, 2021, 7:30 p.m., with trumpet player Daversa (right) and Charles Bergeron serving as directors.

The DownBeat award-winning Frost Concert Jazz Band has been the Frost School Of Music’s distinguished large jazz ensemble for over thirty years. This innovative multimedia program explores the relationship between visual art and music. World premiere compositions by the Frost Studio Jazz Writing Program members are paired with works by local visual artists. The esteemed Frost Sextet opens the set.

Attend in Person (Pre-Register & Pay) or YouTube Livestream (Set a Reminder)

The third concert in this listing takes us much further afield, albeit from the same starting point. On Friday November 12^th 2021 at 7.30 p.m. we wil ´depart´ from Gusman Conceret Hall and head Around The World with the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra, conducted by Scott Flavin

This exciting program is as rich and diverse as only the Frost School’s Henry Mancini Orchestra can present. From cutting-edge techno and jazz standards to music by today’s greatest classical composers, HMI takes us around the globe for a whirlwind sonic experience!

Attend in Person (Pre-Register & Pay) or YouTube Livestream (Set a Reminder)

Similarly you attend in person or join the You Tube livestream to see The XJB Big Band with Guest Conductors, and Charles Bergerson as musical director. This will take place onSaturday, November 13, 2021, 7:30 p.m., with the session taking place in The Weeks Center for Recording & Performance, in The Clarke Recital Hall

The Frost XJB Big Band delivers a night of fabulous classic big band music. These highly talented freshmen are full of musical surprises as they prepare for their entry into other prestigious jazz ensembles in the Studio Music & Jazz program. Frost’s Jazz Pedagogy Master’s degree students conduct the group. 

Attend in Person (Pre-Register & Pay) or YouTube Livestream (Set a Reminder)

photo 5 on Tuesday 16^th November 2021, you will be reminded of many Jazz Composer Greats by The Frost Jazz Vocal Ensemble, directed by Kate Reid as the series returns to UM Gusman Concert Hall. Whether you will be attend in person or joining the You Tube stream you can look forward to an evening celebrating great composers and performers in the jazz canon. Using the magic of their voices, Frost Jazz Vocal students add to the texture of classic instrumental pieces by an assortment of composers. Complex harmonies and beautiful melodies are explored in tunes including, Horace Silver’s Nutville and Peace; Thelonious Monk’s ‘Round Midnight and Monk’s Dream; Pat Metheny’s Phase Dance; and Esperanza Spalding’s I Adore You.

Attend in Person (Pre-Register & Pay) or YouTube Livestream (Set a Reminder)

Naturally, as we move into December you can start Swingin’ For The Holidays with the Stephen Guerra Big Band  on Friday 3^rd December 2021 at the usual start time of 7.30 pm. from the familiar venue of UM Gusman Concert Hall. The evening will be directed by Stephen Guerra Jr. Again, you can attend the live event in person or simply livestream.

The annual holiday tradition continues with this big band extravaganza. Arrangements include holiday classics and a brand-new sing-along. The band showcases a diverse tapestry of musical traditions from around the world. Frost professor Stephen Guerra’s Big Band is comprised of talented students and faculty from across the Studio Music and Jazz program. Get into the spirit with an evening holiday cheer!

Attend in Person (Pre-Register & Pay) or YouTube Livestream (Set a Reminder)

We hope you are able to catch at least the live-stream delivery of some or all of these exciting events.

The prime source for this article was a listing received from Michael Fagien of jazziz that was typical of his excellent, comprehensive service.

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