Category Archives: jazz

BG Alum Wins International Guitar Competition -Mark Kroos Triumphs with a “Double” Feature

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Acoustic guitarist Mark Kroos took first place in Guitar Player Magazine’s 2011 International Guitar Superstar Competition on July 23rd in Nashville. Mark and 4 other competitors each performed one original composition in front of renown guitar judges Muriel Anderson, Reeves Grabrels, Carl Verheyen and host Larry Carlton. Mark took the cake with his piece titled “Flight Attempt.” Fredrik Halland from Norway placed second and Arek Religa from Chicago came in third.

Currently based in Williamsburg, VA, Mark graduated from Bowling Green State University in 2008 with a Bachelor of the Arts in music. He resided in Bowling Green for a year following graduation to teach guitar and perform in his ska / punk band, The Argonauts.

Mark plays two guitar necks at the same time, one with each hand. His style is reminiscent of the late Michael Hedges and draws influence from guitarists such as Leo Kottke, Phil Keaggy and Tommy Emmanuel as well as various punk and indie rock bands.

Mark has been on tour since May, 2010 save a few short breaks for rest, playing concerts or giving clinics every other night on average. Mark plays at bars, coffee houses, listening rooms, churches, schools, house concerts and just about any kind of venue available. He was recently added to the roster of artists endorsed with Ovation Guitars.

Winning the Guitar Superstar Competition awards Mark with a number of prizes including a feature in Guitar Player Magazine and copious amounts of other press. Other endorsements and sponsorships have been offered and Mark has also finalized a partnership with D’Addario Strings and Planet Waves Accessories.

Video of Mark’s winning performance is available at www.markkroos.com.

Print quality photos available at www.sonicbids.com/markkroos

For further information, contact
Mark Kroos
kroosms@hotmail.com
www.markkroos.com

(Submitted by Mark Kroos)

BGSU’s College of Musical Arts Hosts New York Voices Vocal Jazz Camp

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The last two summers brought singers from as far as Japan, South Africa and France to rehearse, sing and perform together to the BGSU campus for the New York Voices Vocal Jazz Camp. From August 1-7 the 6-day camp will again feature the intense and unique blend of New York Voices ensemble singing and soloist virtuosity in both teaching and performing. In its third year, the multi-Grammy winners return to their BGSU camp to teach and perform with a total of six nights of concerts:

In featured concerts, Peter Eldridge, Lauren Kinhan, Darmon Meader and Kim Nazarian, will present material from their solo projects and recordings. On August 1st hosting ensemble BGSU Jazz Singers and the BGSU camp faculty Morgen Stiegler, Chris Buzzelli and Doug Neel will perform at 8 pm.

On the 2nd Kinhan and Eldridge will bring their sophisticated sounds to the Bowling Green audience in a joint concert. Wednesday night will include a feature performance by camp faculty and ‘5th Voice’ Greg Jasperse, while Thursday night, Aug. 4th will have Nazarian present selections from her upcoming album as well as a tribute to Mr. Rogers, alongside Meader’s awe-inspiring virtuosity on both the vocal mic and tenor saxophone.

Friday August 5th will feature highlights from select 2011 campers and on August 6th the Camp Ensembles perform at 3:30 pm and then New York Voices live at BGSU will return as the staple music experience of the camp. For more information, please see www.BGSUjazz.com.

2011 BGSU New York Voices Vocal Jazz Camp Concerts: All Concerts at Bryan Recital Hall, College of Musical Arts – Bowling Green, OH

BGSU Jazz Singer & Morgen Stiegler Quartet feat. Chris Buzzelli
Monday, August 1, 2011 – 8 pm, free

Peter Eldridge & Lauren Kinhan
Tuesday, August 2, 2011 – 8 pm, $5 at the door

Camper Concert & featured performance by Greg Jasperse
Wednesday, August 3, 2011 – 8 pm, free

Darmon Meader & Kim Nazarian
Tuesday, August 2, 2011 – 8 pm, $5 at the door

Camper Concert featuring selected 2011 campers
Friday, August 5, 2011 – 8 pm, free

The Camp Ensembles
Saturday, August 6, 2011 – 4:00 pm, free

Featured Camp Event: New York Voices in Concert
Saturday, August 6, 2011 – 8 pm, $15

(Submitted by Susan Knapp)

Memorial Jazz Concert to honor Dave Melle, April 10, 3:00pm

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Bowling Green State University celebrates the legacy of legendary musician Dave Melle in a special memorial jazz concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 10, in Kobacker Hall.

The free concert will feature performances by the BGSU Jazz Lab Band, the BGSU Vocal Jazz Ensemble, the Dave Melle Alumni Jazz Band and special guests 6th Edition.

Dave “Dak” Melle was a professor of performance studies at the BGSU College of Musical Arts from 1967-95. He directed the Jazz Lab Band from 1970-95 and also performed as flutist with the BGSU Venti da Camera Woodwind Quintet from 1973-92, appearing on campus, in the community, at state and national music conventions and on tour in Belgium in 1991.

In 1980-81, he helped found and directed the Toledo Jazz Orchestra in its first two seasons. He was appointed director again in 1996 and continued in that capacity through the spring of 2003. With the BGSU Jazz Lab Band and the Toledo Jazz Orchestra, he directed and produced 14 recordings.

6th Edition is a five-piece vocal jazz group whose members include Lori Lefevre, Kevin Eikum, Kim Buehler, Lisa Young and John Johnson. The group has released its first CD, “It’s About Time,” available at CDBaby.com.

(Submitted by Susan Knapp)

Jazz Week 2011 kicks off March 28

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Jay Ashby
Jay Ashby

The sounds of piano, trombone and jazz combos will fill the air at Bowling Green State University starting March 28 as Jazz Week 2011 kicks off.

Events run from March 28 to April 1 with performances, clinics and appearances by BGSU jazz students, faculty and special guests Jay Ashby and Russell Schmidt.

Schmidt is the featured piano performer for the first concert, at 8 p.m. March 28 in Bryan Recital Hall of the Moore Musical Arts Center. Joining Schmidt on a series of selections will be BGSU jazz faculty members David Bixler, alto sax; Chris Buzzelli, guitar; Jeff Halsey, bass, and Roger Schupp, drums.

Schmidt is a previous Director of Jazz Activities at BGSU and holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied with legendary jazz pedagogue Rayburn Wright.

As a performer, Schmidt was one of only two American jazz pianists selected to participate in the second Martial Solal International Jazz Piano Competition in Paris. Among his recent recordings are “Season of Change,” which is his debut release as a leader, “Jazz Vespers,” by Paul Ferguson, and “The Surprise of Being – Live at Birdland” by the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra featuring Joe Lovano.

BGSU students in chamber jazz ensembles will take the stage at the Bryan Recital Hall at 8 p.m. March 29.

Russell Schmidt
Russell Schmidt

On March 30, trombonist Jay Ashby and members of the BGSU jazz faculty will perform as part of the Faculty Artist Series. Ashby is a four-time Grammy Award-winning producer whose resume includes over 100 recordings, ranging in style and genre from jazz and pop to world music.

In recent years, Ashby has performed, traveled and recorded extensively with some of the most renowned artists in the industry. His longtime association with trumpet master Claudio Roditi helped develop his strong affinity for “Brazilian Jazz.” As a member of Dizzy Gillespie’s United Nation Orchestra in the early 1990s, Ashby forged relationships with jazz greats Paquito D’Rivera and Jon Faddis. In 1999, in a testament to his versatility, he began his first foray into the pop world as trombonist, percussionist and arranger with pop music icon Paul Simon.

In an educational capacity, Ashby has conducted master classes, residencies and clinics world wide, including annual events in Germany, Brazil and Russia.

BGSU’s Vocal Jazz Ensemble will be featured at 8 p.m. March 31 in Bryan Recital Hall.

On April 1 at 8 p.m. in Kobacker Hall, Ashby will join the Jazz Lab Band I in a program that will include some of Ashby’s own material and arrangements including “The BGSU Blues.”

All events are sponsored in part by Marlene Norton and Jerry Liss and are free and open to the public. To view a schedule of events, click here.

(Submitted by Susan Knapp)

Arturo O’Farrill/David Bixler The Auction Project receives fours stars in Down Beat Magazine

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Down Beat magazine gave a four star review of BGSU jazz faculty member David Bixler’s new CD, saying “(Auction Project) is an ambitious project, filled with heady arrangements.  The Auction Project features jazz with Latin overtones.  Heather Martin Bixler’s violin on Auction Project helps create a contrasting sonic weave across a swath of traditional, folksy material arranged by David, eg., “Heather’s Waltz Part 1” and “Part 2,” (Down Beat, January, 2010) the sextet dishing up a great mix of Afro-Celtic “sympathies” more urban grooves.”

Click here to download a digital version of the magazine and read the entire review (page 81).

(Submitted by David Bixler)