Local Color (University of Northern Iowa Jazz Band One album)

Local Color
Studio album by
University of Northern Iowa
Jazz Band One
Released November 2015
Recorded May/June, 2015
Genre Jazz, big band
Length 1:07:00
Label UNI
Producer Christopher Merz

University of Northern Iowa
Jazz Band One chronology
Not with THAT Attitude!
(2014)		 Local Color
(2015)
UNI 70026143267

Local Color is a critically acclaimed compact disc by the University of Northern Iowa Jazz Band One produced in the recording studio at Russell Hall in the University of Northern Iowa School of Music. This is their 25th CD release in as many years. This group has been consistently recognized as one of the top collegiate jazz ensembles in the United States having won numerous Down Beat awards and accolades from music industry professionals. "..(the professors) have a magical way with these kids. Each time I hear one of (the) groups, I'm even more blown way than the last time."[1]

Background

The University of Northern Iowa Jazz Band One has a long tradition of award winning recordings with the "Local Color" CD being the 25th release in as many years. Jazz Band One was the winner of 1999 Down Beat Magazine Student Music Performance Award and also recognized in the International Association for Jazz Education Journal with Dr. Herb Wong's International Association for Jazz Education Blue Chip Jazz Award. In January 2000, Down Beat Magazine featured an article entitled, "The Best Jazz CDs of the 90's." In the article, all CDs that received 5- and 4 1/2-star reviews in the 1990s were listed; UNI Jazz Band One was the only university big band to receive two 5-star reviews that year.[2][3] The group has toured Europe and Asia several times playing at the North Sea Jazz Festival[4] and Montreux Jazz Festival's. A great deal of student and alumni composition rounds out the selections of the CD, Amur In Her Heart was a special commission presented to the group which features guest artists Michael Conrad (organ), Justin Kisor (trumpet), and Mitra Sadeghpour (vocalise).[5]

Track listing

Track Listing:

No. Title Length
1. "Gerry's Timepiece (Michael Conrad)"   6:17
2. "Fee Fi Fo Fum (Wayne Shorter, arr. Paul Lichty)"   8:25
3. "I Broke The Dam (Brian Crew)"   9:15
4. "Amur In Her Heart for Oksana (Jack Cooper)"   8:07
5. "Freedom Jazz Dance (Eddie Harris, arr. Troy Thompson)"   7:49
6. "Mirage (Rick Hirsch)"   10:17
7. "My Ship (Kurt Weill & Ira Gershwin, arr. Nick Lane)"   5:47
8. "The Egyptian (Curtis Fuller, arr. Paul Lichty)"   10:22
Total length:
 1:07:00

Recording Sessions

Musicians

Production

Works from the compact disc

The works from the compact disc are wide ranging and reflect the eclectic and innovative teaching that Chris Merz and the UNI Music School professors promote. Other faculty and internationally acclaimed artists are collaborated with on the CD (to include vocalize sung by Dr. Mitra Sadeghpour). All the selections point to the well rooted traditions of jazz taught in the curriculum at the UNI School of Music.[6] Numerous student works are featured on the recording also.

Critical reception and professional ratings

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
All About Jazz[7]

"The band as a whole is exemplary, and director Chris Merz deserves three cheers for having his young charges primed and ready to face the erraticisms of the recording studio. In sum, Local Color proves a worthy addition to UNI's expanding catalog of admirable recordings."

Jack Bowers, senior contributor, All About Jazz[7]

References

  1. ↑ Games CD Liner notes, Bobby Shew.
  2. ↑ 1999 Downbeat Magazine Student Performance, top honors
  3. ↑ University of Northern Iowa Jazz Ensemble One
  4. ↑ North Sea Jazz Festival, listing for UNI Jazz Band One, July 1998, Escher Zaal
  5. ↑ YouTube, "Amur in Her Heart" from the UNI Jazz Band One CD 'Local Color' composed by Jack Cooper
  6. ↑ Iowa PBS T.V., University of Northern Iowa School Jazz; a nationally respected program
  7. 1 2 Bowers, Jack. Review of Local Color. All About Jazz. February 9, 2016
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