For Immediate Release
Contact: Marketing and Communications at 406.791.5306
GREAT FALLS, MONTANA –The University of Providence (formerly UGF) Jazz Ensemble will be performing its fall semester concert on Sunday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. in the UP Theater. The theme for this performance is: “JAZZ is . . . . L – O – V – E”.
“We had the honor of playing for the wedding party of two of our illustrious Great Falls music and dance personalities, Bud Nicholls and Linda Fuller, last July,” says John Gemberling, director of the jazz ensemble. “The music was such a hit with the party attendees and with the band, we figured we should share it with the community at large.”
Music on the program suggests the wide variety of emotions associated with being in love and will include: Nat “King” Cole’s “L-O-V-E”, (hence the concert title), an upbeat version of Jerome Kern’s “A Fine Romance”, Willie Nelson’s hit for Patsy Cline: “Crazy”, and a nice standard version of “Misty” by Errol Garner.
Also on the program are two lesser-known features for vocalist Beth Britton: “I Just Found Out About Love” and “Deedles Blues” (Brand New Man); originally performed by Diane Schurr and the Count Basie Orchestra.
“Beth is an amazing vocalist and we wanted to give her a chance to really show off her pipes,” says Gemberling. “She can really send you on these tunes.”
The band’s personnel are a great mix of young and experienced talent. Along with Beth Britton on vocals and John Gemberling, trumpet and vocals; the band’s players include: Alan Johnson and Antonio Jarvey on alto sax, Bill Furdell and Chris Mothersole on tenor sax, Anne Kittleson on baritone sax, Jean Annau-clarinet, James Schreiber-soprano sax, Bud Nicholls and Mike Bruner-trumpet, Phil Burton, Bill Hammond, Fred Gnojek, and Adrian
Massey-trombone, Skip Reissing-guitar, Gary Walter-piano, Sterling Burch-bass, and Chris Rockeman-drums.
“We hope to get a nice receptive audience out for this annual Sunday before Thanksgiving performance,” says Gemberling. “We’re sure there will be at least one tune that each patron will go out the door singing to their special loved one”.
The University of Providence is a private Catholic university located in Great Falls, Montana. Founded in 1932, the university includes both a School of Liberal Arts and Sciences and a School of Health Professions. For more information, go to uprovidence.edu.
