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UNCG All-State Jazz Band concert held Nov. 24
 
GREENSBORO – They might have the potential to become the next Miles Davis, Duke Ellington or Wynton Marsalis. They just have to finish high school first.

Some of the best young jazz musicians in North Carolina will jam together as the UNCG All-State Jazz Band Sunday, Nov. 24, at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

The concert, which includes a performance by the UNCG Jazz Ensemble, will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the UNCG School of Music Recital Hall. Byron Stripling, trumpeter, will guest conduct the high school ensemble. The UNCG Jazz Ensemble will be led by Steve Haines, director of the Miles Davis Program in Jazz Studies at UNCG.

The UNCG All-State Jazz Band is comprised of 19 high-school musicians from throughout the state. They were selected by review of an audition tape and recommendations by their music instructors. This year, 75 students competed for a seat in the elite band.

Members are: Taylor Thompson (alto sax, Page High School), Adrian Crutchfield (alto sax, North Carolina School of the Arts), Andrew Paolantonio (tenor sax, Durham School of the Arts), Brandon Tesh (tenor sax, Northwest Guilford High School), Paul Fisher (baritone sax, Northwest School of the Arts), Marc Osterer (trumpet, North Carolina School of the Arts), Benjamin Strickland (trumpet, Southern Alamance High School), Brian Pratt (trumpet, Williams High School), Amy Jo Bastow-Cox (trumpet, Northwood High School), Lynn Grissett Jr. (trumpet, West Brunswick High School), Gavin Sims (trombone, Northwest Guildford High School), Michael Petersen (trombone, Durham School of the Arts), Tony Mazzella (trombone, Middle Creek High School), Patrick Heavner (trombone, Freedom High School), Ben Jenson (piano, Northwest School of the Arts), Marc Davis (guitar, Charles B. Aycock High School), Jacob Boy (bass, Early College at Guilford), Lee Kyle Hinshaw (drums, Northwest Guildford High School) and Josh Cvijanovic (percussion, Northwest Guilford High School).

The All-State Jazz Band will select its program from Juan Tizol’s “Perdido,” John Coltrane’s “Impressions” (arr. Mark Taylor), Michael Philip Mossman’s “Ran Kan Kan” and two tunes by Jeff Tyzik, “Lullaby of Basie” and “Downtown Shuffle.”

This is the third-annual concert of the UNCG All-State Jazz Band, which is sponsored by Downbeat magazine, Jamey Aebersold Inc. and the UNCG School of Music.

Stripling, the guest conductor, earned his stripes as lead trumpeter and soloist with the Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of Thad Jones and Frank Foster. He also played and recorded extensively with the bands of Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Herman, Lionel Hampton, Clark Terry, and Buck Clayton, in addition to the Lincoln Center Classical Jazz Orchestra, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, and the GRP All Star Big Band.

An accomplished actor and singer, Stripling was chosen to star in the lead role of the Broadway bound musical, Satchmo, and gave a critically acclaimed trumpet and comedic performance in the 42nd Street production of "From Second Avenue to Broadway." Millions have heard his trumpet and voice on commercials, television theme songs (including "20/20" and CNN), the Grammy Awards and movie soundtracks.

Tickets cost $8 for adults, $5 for seniors and non-UNCG students and $3 for UNCG students. For more information, call the UNCG Box Office at (336) 334-4849, weekdays from noon to 5 p.m., or visit the School of Music on the Web at www.uncg.edu/mus/.
 

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