JANUARY 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lexington, VA -- Big Band Jazz comes to Washington and Lee on the next SonoKlect concert as the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra returns to town. Terry Vosbein will lead this ensemble as they perform his original works alongside of music from Stan Kenton’s 1948 Progressive Jazz Orchestra. The concert will be held in Wilson Hall, on Washington and Lee’s beautiful campus, January 24th at 8pm. Tickets are free but required and are available from the Lenfest box office (540.458.8000).

Vosbein spent seven months in Europe last year, composing for a twenty-piece jazz orchestra. These new compositions combine Vosbein’s wide-ranging influences, from traditional big bands to classical and contemporary masterworks. And as always in jazz, there is a lot of room for improvisation.

The concert will also highlight newly discovered compositions from Stan Kenton’s most popular years. Due to a recording ban, a great deal of music from this period has not been heard in 60 years. Some titles have never been performed. Vosbein unearthed this trove of music while researching in the Stan Kenton archives in 2007.

The Knoxville Jazz Orchestra was last in Lexington for a 2000 SonoKlect performance. Comprised of East Tennessee’s top professional musicians, they perform a wide range of music from America’s jazz tradition. The group’s performances have been described as energetic, exciting, engaging and highly entertaining. Formed in 1999 by trumpeter/arranger Vance Thompson, the band has appeared on jazz festivals in Europe, released four critically acclaimed CD recordings and performed dozens of concerts in Knoxville, many featuring internationally recognized guest artists.

The concert will also be performed on 21 January at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.


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