The Studio Jazz Ensemble performs big band arrangements and repertory selections. The Modern Band performs innovative arrangements of jazz standards, selections from the outer limits of the genre, and new original compositions.
Modern Band
Cuong Vu, director
De Drums ................................................................................................................................. Keith Jarrett
A Shifting Design ............................................................................................................. Kurt Rosenwinkel
Curious ..................................................................................................................................... Tony Lefaive
Withdrawl Symptoms ................................................................................................................. Tim Young
Again ............................................................................................................................................ Bill Frisell
Guitar Hero .............................................................................................................................. Lucas Winter
Stuart MacDonald, tenor saxophone
Lucas Winter, guitar
Tony Lefaive, bass
Mike Stone, drums
UW Studio Jazz Big Band
Director: Paul Harshman
Evidence .......................................................................... Thelonius Monk arr. John Clayton
I Thought About You ................................ Jimmy Van Heusen & Johnny Mercer, arr. Vern Seilert
The Jody Grind ...........................................................Horace Silver, arr. John Clayton
Emily ............................................................Johnny Mercer, arr. Bob Washut
The Rotten Kid .............................................................................. Buddy Greco
Lingus ........................................................................Michael League, arr. Paul Harshman
Personnel
Saxes
Alto
Katyrose Jordan
Luciano de la Inglesia
Tenor
Jay Glliespie
Sam Kartub
Baritone
Drew Butler
Trombone
Andrew Sumabat
Liz Abel
Nick Ruof
Tyler Frost
Trumpet
Josh Willey
Cameron Nakatani
Cameron Wressell
Collin Burns
Rhythm
Piano: Daniel Oliver
Guitar: Calvin Huynh
Bass: Mariah Jones
Drums: Matt Carr, Wyatt Gardner
Director Bios:
(Cuong Vu, Studio Jazz Ensemble - Modern Band; Paul Harshman, Studio Jazz Ensemble - Big Band; Fred Radke, Studio Jazz Ensemble - Big 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 to a wide range of artists such as Pat Metheny, Laurie Anderson, and David Bowie.
As a youngster, Cuong's intense dedication and love for music led him to a full scholarship at the New England Conservatory of Music where he received his Bachelor of Music in Jazz studies with a distinction in performance. Transitioning from his studies in Boston, he moved to New York in 1994 and began his career actively leading various groups while touring extensively throughout the world. As a leader, Cuong has released eight recordings, each making critics’ lists of the 10 best recordings of their respective years and has received rave reviews from notable publications such as the New York Times, The New Yorker, Harper’s, the Guardian, BBC Music Magazine, JazzTimes and Downbeat. Each record displays how he has carved out a distinctive sonic territory as a trumpet player, blurring all stylistic borders while developing his own compositional aesthetic and sound world.
Awards and honors that Cuong has garnered include grants from the Royalty Research Foundation, the Donald E. Petersen Professorship, ArtistTrust, 4Culture, CityArts and the Colbert Award for Excellence. Cuong is currently associate professor and chair of Jazz Studies at the University of Washington and was awarded the University of Washington's prestigious Distinguished Teacher Award in his third year on faculty. 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 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 listed Vu’s “Come Play With Me” on their “The 100 Greatest Jazz Albums of All Time.”