The Modern Band, led by Cuong Vu, performs original music by members Greg Sinibaldi, Gus Carns, Raymond Larsen, and Mike Gebhart. The Studio Jazz Ensemble, led by Fred Radke, performs big band arrangements and repertory selections, including works by Cole Porter, Charlie Parker, Harry James, and others.
PROGRAM DETAIL
MODERN BAND
Cuong Vu, director
Special Agent (Greg Sinibaldi)
Untitled (Gus Carns)
Newcomer (Raymond Larsen)
Your News Is Sanitized (Greg Sinibaldi)
After News (Greg Sinibaldi)
A Return To Rituals (Mike Gebhart)
Gus Carns / keyboard
Gwen Franz / viola
Mike Gebhart / drums
Raymond Larsen / trumpet
Carmen Rothwell / bass
Greg Sinibaldi/ tenor saxophone
David Solomon / vibraphone
Steve Treseler / alto saxophone
Bryan Van Pelt / tenor saxophone
STUDIO JAZZ ENSEMBLE
Fred Radke, director
A Tube of Blues (Rich Matteson)
Mueva los Huesos (Gordon Goodwin)
Trumpet Blues and Cantabile (Harry James)
Orange Colored Sky, with special guest Alena Menefee (DeLugg/Stein, arr. Stan Kenton)
Ornithology (Charlie Parker)
Stairway to the Stars (Malneck/Signorelli, arr. Bill Holman)
I Get a Kick Out Of You (Cole Porter, arr. Everett Longstreth)
We'll Be Together Again (Fischer/Laine, arr. Don Menza)
Come Fly With Me (Van Heusen/Cahn, arr. Everett Longstreth)
Donna Lee (Charlie Parker, arr. Matt Catingub)
Saxophones
Alex Avakiantz*
Sidney Hauser*
Ian Mangedoht*
Noah Schramm*
Michael Van Hippel*
Trombones
Seth Bronstein
Maclean Ferguson
Kevin Jenson*
Kaitlin Pitz
Colin Pulkrabek*
Gene Kim
Trumpets
John Feuerstein
Alex Kale*
Raymond Larsen*
Fred Radke
Ken Weller
Rhythm
William Mapp (drums)*
Jackson Mindt (bass)*
Daniel Salka (piano)*
Adam Shimabukuro (guitar)*
Vocals
Kevin Jenson*
*Designates soloist
DIRECTOR BIOS
Cuong Vu, UW Modern Band
Cuong Vu is widely recognized by jazz critics as a leader of a generation of innovative musicians. A truly unique musical voice, Cuong has lent his trumpet playing talents to a wide range of artists including Pat Metheny, Laurie Anderson, David Bowie, Dave Douglas, Myra Melford, Cibo Matto, and Mitchell Froom.
A recipient of numerous awards and honors, Cuong was awarded the Colbert Award for Excellence: The Downtown Arts Project Emerging Artist Award. As an assistant professor in jazz studies, he was recently awarded the University of Washington's prestigious Distinguished Teacher Award and is a Donald E. Petersen Endowed Fellow. In 2002 and 2006, Cuong was a recipient of the Grammy for Best Contemporary Jazz Album as a member of the Pat Metheny Group. He's been recognized as one of the top 50 young Jazz Artists in an article called "The New Masters" from the British magazine, "Classic CD" and in 2006 was named the Best International Jazz Artist by the Italian Jazz Critics' Society. Amazon included Vu's "Come Play With Me" on their list The 100 Greatest Jazz Albums of All Time.
Fred Radke, Studio Jazz Ensemble
Fred Radke joined the School of Music faculty in Fall 2011 as an artist in residence in the Jazz Studies program. A well-known big-band conductor and authority on big-band history, Radke directs the University of Washington's big band, the UW Studio Jazz Ensemble.
A professional musician since the age of fifteen, Radke has toured extensively around the world as leader and member of the Harry James Orchestra. He has also performed as lead trumpeter with many other well-known ensembles and performers, including the Glenn Miller Orchestra, the Dick Jergens Orchestra, the Modernaires, Johnny Ray, Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Torme and numerous others.
In addition to his professional career as a trumpeter, conductor, recording artist, compose/arranger, and producer, Radke is a musical clinician and educator who most recently has served as the resident instructor of Jazz Studies at North Seattle Community College.