2006-2007 Season Events - 40TH ANNIVERSARY JAZZ REUNION & Don Keranen Memorial Concert
Jazz Reunion Events | Guest Soloists: Steve Wiest and Steve Zenz
CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF JAZZ AT MICHIGAN TECH
Some things you can count on—snow in March, and the irrepressible energy and joy of Michigan Tech’s award-winning jazz bands. Mike Irish, director of jazz studies, brings Tech’s bands to the Rozsa stage this weekend for a once-a-decade celebration—a 40th anniversary concert featuring the Jazz Lab Band and R&D Big Band, plus a special Alumni Jazz Lab Band and two guest soloists, Milwaukee jazz drummer Steve Zenz and trombonist Steve Wiest, former music director for Maynard Ferguson. Concert time is 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 24. Tickets are available from the Rozsa Box Office (487-3200 and www.tickets.mtu.edu) and at the door for $10 general, $5 students. BUY TICKETS ONLINE!
Generations of Tech students have played jazz under the leadership of Don Keranen (1967-1988), Rob Wernberg (1989-1991), and Mike Irish (1991-present), touring throughout Michigan, the Midwest, and six times to Jamaica, and winning awards at college jazz festivals. Since Michigan Tech doesn’t offer a major in music, all the musicians major insomething else—engineering, science, forestry, business, etc.— but make jazz a center of their lives, often forming life-long friendships and continuing to play long after graduation.
This week’s once-a-decade reunion concert brings back approximately 30 alums who still love to play, including pianist Kristin DuChateau, bassist Dan Komarzec, guitarists Pat Valencia and Pete Wessel, drummers Adam Johnson, Mark Lucier and Andy Wynn, trumpeters Alan Cross, Doug Jefferson and Rachel Burney, and many others.
“This will be a terrific concert,” Irish says, featuring jazz in many styles, from Cole Porter classics to the latest funk and blues sounds. The Jazz Lab Band will feature arrangements by Steve Wiest and by Jon VanRegenmorter, a graduating senior who has played sax and keyboards for four years at MTU. The R&D Band will range from Duke Ellington to Thad Jones’ “The Funk Stops Here.” Jeff Jarvis’ “No Time to Lose” and “Groovin’ with Bradley,” Doug Beach’s “Super Chief,” and other favorites will highlight the Alumni JLB set. After the concert, a jam session open to all will convene at the Ramada’s Upper Deck starting at about 10:00 p.m.
Celebrated jazz trombonist, composer, and clinician Steve Wiest started his professional career with Maynard Ferguson’s band and recently reunited with other Ferguson alumni for a concert and recording session at New York City’s fabled Blue Note. His latest recording for Arabeque Jazz is “Excalibur,” written and arranged by Wiest and recorded by an all-star big band. Drummer Steve Zenz is a first-call musician in the Milwaukee area and award-winning teacher who has played with many well-known bands through the years. Irish, who knows Zenz well, says, “Steve is amazing. He could find the groove at the bottom of Quincy Mine.”
Irish will announce this year’s Don Keranen awards for outstanding jazz musician and most improved player during Saturday’s concert.
Steve Wiest
Celebrated jazz trombonist-composer-and clinician Steve Wiest first came to the music world’s attention as one of the exciting featured artists with the late Maynard Ferguson. Wiest recently reunited with Ferguson at the Blue Note in New York during the summer of 2006 as part of an all-star alumni band. That same group went into Bennett Studios and recorded works by Wiest, Denis DiBlasio, Chip McNeil, Aaron Lington, and Christian Jacob for Maynard’s final CD to be released in 2006. Wiest has also performed and recorded with the Doc Severinsen Big Band recording “Swingin’ the Blues” with Doc in 2000.
Steve’s new recording for Arabesque Jazz: "Excalibur” has met with wide critical acclaim since its release in August of 2006. Excalibur can be ordered through www.arabesquerecordings.com. All of the compositions and arrangements on the CD were penned by Wiest and feature a brilliant big band full of seasoned jazz artists.
Wiest also continues to be very successful as a guest artist and clinician for Edwards Trombones throughout the U.S. and Europe. His guest artist activities have been featured at countless universities, high schools, professional groups, jazz festivals, and conferences. To set up a guest appearance by Wiest or to catch up on his activities, visit his website at www.stevewiest.com.
READ: Steve Wiest Long Biography (PDF) | "Excalibur" 2006 Review by Bob Bernotas (PDF)
LISTEN: Excalibur 3:05 (MP3)
EXPLORE: SteveWiest.com
EXPERIENCE Steve Wiest: Jazz Reunion March 24, 2007
Steve Zenz
Drummer Steve Zenz has been teaching and performing music for over forty years. He obtained a Bachelors Degree from UW-Eau Claire in 1975 and a Master of Music Education from UW-Stevens Point in 1987. His Post Graduate work include studies at UW-River Falls, Cardinal Strich College, The University of St Thomas and Drake University.
Mr. Zenz's career in education has included appointments at UW-LaCrosse, UW-Stevens Point and his current position with the Slinger, Wisconsin School District. Steve has performed with the Wisconsin chapter of Young Audiences of America Inc., taught at Point Music Camp at UW-Stevens Point, Birch Creek Music Center in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin, the Summer Youth Program in Jazz Studies at Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan, the UW-Green Bay Summer Jazz Camp and his current position at the Shell Lake Arts and Education Center in Shell Lake, Wisconsin. He is co-founder of the Cordoba Jazz Camp, as well as the Cordoba Jazz Orchestra both in Cordoba, Argentina.
He has performed with such diverse personalities as Milt Hinton, Rosemary Clooney, Clark Terry, Myron Floren, Tiny Tim and Bob Hope. Steve has had numerous appointments to Who's Who among America's Teachers® and was named WJZI-Milwaukee's music teacher of the month in 2005. In 2006 he was named teacher of the year by The Friends of International Education and elected to the American School Band Directors Association.
He is a Past President and current Vice President of the Wisconsin Unit of the International Association of Jazz Educators and a member of that organization's International Executive Board representing South America.
EXPERIENCE Steve Zenz: Jazz Reunion March 24, 2006