One O'Clock Lab Band and Wednesday Night Jazz return to UNT for the fall season

Monday, August 25, 2014 - 20:54
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DENTON, Texas (UNT) – The One O'Clock Lab Band's fall season starts Sept. 3 with a concert and album release at UNT's Gateway Center, and serves as the opening for the popular Wednesday Night Jazz series. The One O'Clock Lab Band's dynamic season continues with concerts throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The fall lineup includes the annual November concert in Denton, this season featuring guest artist Chuck Findley. A renowned trumpet player who is perhaps best known as a member of The Tonight Show Band during the tenures of both Johnny Carson and Jay Leno, Findley has also performed and/or recorded with artists such as Miles Davis, Elton John and B.B. King.

Jay Saunders, interim director of the One O'Clock band, said he and the band are excited for Findley to take the stage as a guest artist.

"He's really remarkable. He's one of the best jazz trumpet players, period," said Saunders, who also noted Findley's career performing music on many famous jazz and pop CDs, TV shows and movie soundtracks.

The One O'Clock will perform in these concerts this season in DFW:

  • 9 p.m. Sept. 3 – Wednesday Night Jazz season opening concert at UNT's Gateway Center Ballroom, $5 at the door
  • 8 p.m. Sept. 19 – Concert and CD Release Event at UT Dallas in Richardson.
  • 6 p.m. Sept. 25 – Concert at Dallas Museum of Art in the Atrium Series.
  • 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17 – Fort Worth CD Release Event Concert at McDavid Studio in Fort Worth.
  • 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 21 – Middle School Education Series Concert at Bass Hall in Fort Worth.
  • 8 p.m. Nov. 25 – The 54th Annual Fall Concert at Winspear Hall in the Murchison Performing Arts Center in Denton. Guest artist: Chuck Findley, trumpet. Directed by: Jay Saunders. Ticket information: 940-369-7802 or at http://www.theMPAC.com.
  • 8 p.m. Dec. 6 - Sounds of the Holidays: An Evening with North Texas Jazz, featuring the One O'Clock and the UNT Jazz Singers. Ticket information: 940-369-7802 or at the Murchison Performing Arts Center online.
  • 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 – Holiday Concert at McDavid Studio in Fort Worth.
  • 7 p.m. Dec. 13 – Holiday Concert at First United Methodist Church in Richardson.

Jazz fans interested in attending the Sept. 3 concert can start their evening even earlier with a recital featuring vocal jazz professor Jennifer Barnes, director of the UNT Jazz Singers; jazz saxophone professor Brad Leali, director of the Three O'Clock Lab Band; professor of jazz piano Stefan Karlsson; and guest musicians John Adams on bass and Steve Barnes on drumset. The free concert starts at 8 p.m. in Kenton Hall in the College of Music.

Fans can then head over to the Gateway Center Ballroom where Saunders notes that the One O'Clock's opening performance will be its longest and most diverse concert. With the fall semester just beginning and the band only having a few rehearsals to prepare, this concert will be a feat that reflects on the One O'Clock's high quality musicianship and talent.

"The One O'Clock has had a wonderful reputation in the jazz world as being among the finest jazz ensembles anywhere," Saunders said. "It's a ridiculously talented jazz ensemble that doesn't sound like a student ensemble."

The One O'Clock Lab Band's new album, Lab 2014, is expected to be on sale for $15 during the band's season opener at the Gateway Center. The CD features mostly original music, everything from salsa to blues, and was produced under the direction of Steve Wiest, former director of the One O'Clock Lab Band.

A Two O'Clock Lab Band album is also available this year as a two-disc set for $20. Saunders, who most recently directed the Two O'Clock band, said it includes music arranged by UNT alumni, friends of the band and three new arrangements by current graduate student Drew Zaremba. It also features two vocal jazz performances.

"Purchasing the CDs helps to make sure that there will be student CDs produced in the future, helps pay for trips for jazz ensembles and helps with jazz scholarships. And they are fun to listen to," Saunders said.

Wednesday Night Jazz at the Gateway Center

Wednesday Night Jazz returns to UNT, highlighting the wide variety of jazz ensembles in the College of Music. Concerts are 9 p.m. to midnight on Wednesdays through Nov. 19 in the Gateway Center Ballroom, 801 North Texas Blvd., Denton. There is a $4 admission charge at the door. Exceptions noted below.

The full schedule includes:

  • 9 p.m. Sept. 3 – One O'Clock Lab Band, directed by Jay Saunders. Please note that the admission for this evening is $5 at the door.
  • 9 p.m. Sept. 10 – Two O'Clock Lab Band, directed by Rodney Booth; Four O'Clock Lab Band, directed by Drew Zaremba.
  • 9 p.m. Sept. 17 – Three O'Clock Lab Band, directed by Brad Leali; Five O'Clock Lab Band, directed by Aaron Hedenstrom.
  • 9 p.m. Sept. 24 – Six O'Clock Lab Band, directed by Joakim Toftgard; Seven O'Clock Lab Band, directed by Keith Karns.
  • 9 p.m. Oct. 1 – Eight O'Clock Lab Band, directed by Patrick Carr; Nine O'Clock Lab Band, directed by Daniel Matthews.
  • 9 p.m. Oct. 8 – U-Tubes, directed by Julie Gray; Jazz Repertory Ensemble, directed by Chris McGuire.
  • 9 p.m. Oct. 15 – Zebras, directed by Sergio Pamies; Latin Jazz Lab, directed by José Aponte.
  • 9 p.m. Oct. 22 – West End, directed by Ryan Howe; Third Street, directed by Cindy Dicken; Avenue C, directed by Justin Binek; UNT Jazz Singers, directed by Jennifer Barnes; Guitarkestra, directed by Fred Hamilton.
  • 9 p.m. Oct. 29 – Two O'Clock Lab Band, directed by Rodney Booth; Six O'Clock Lab Band, directed by Joakim Toftgård.
  • 9 p.m. Nov. 5 – Four O'Clock Lab Band, directed by Drew Zaremba; Five O'Clock Lab Band, directed by Aaron Hedenstrom. 
  • 9 p.m. Nov. 12 – Three O'Clock Lab Band, directed by Brad Leali; Seven O'Clock Lab Band, directed by Keith Karns.
  • 9 p.m. Nov. 19 – Eight O'Clock Lab Band, directed by Patrick Carr; Nine O'Clock Lab Band, directed by Daniel Matthews.

About the One O'Clock Lab Band

The Grammy-nominated One O'Clock Lab Band, UNT's premier jazz ensemble, has performed and toured throughout the world -- including Australia, Canada, England, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Switzerland, Thailand and The Netherlands. The band is currently performing under interim director Jay Saunders, previously the director of the Two O'Clock Lab Band. The UNT jazz program -- the first of its kind in the nation -- is housed within the College of Music, one of the country's most respected comprehensive schools of music.

About the UNT College of Music

The UNT College of Music is one of the largest and most respected comprehensive music schools in the country. More than 1,600 music students attend UNT each year, participating in more than 50 widely varied ensembles and pursuing specialized studies in performance, composition, music education or music scholarship. UNT faculty members and students have made appearances on the world's finest stages and have produced numerous recordings, many receiving Grammy awards and nominations. Distinguished UNT alumni can be found around the globe in top music ensembles, opera companies, universities and schools.

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