Student jazz ensembles pay homage to the icons of jazz and break new ground with original progressive jazz compositions.
Program
Combo 5for5
Cuong Vu, ensemble advisor
Dance of the Infidels: Bud Powell
Ceora: Lee Morgan
Chelsea Bridge: Billy Strayhorn
There Will Never Be Another You: Harry Warden/Mack Gordon
Whisper Not: Benny Golson
PERSONNEL: Martin Nguyen, alto saxophone; Andrew Son, tenor saxophone; Luiggi Cantcafe, guitar; Beau Wood, bass, Murphy Janssen, drums
Unit 6
Steve Rodby, ensemble advisor
Inner Urge: Joe Henderson
Chill: Josh Redman
Tell Me A Bedtime Story: Herbie Hancock
Trinkle Tinkle: Thelonius Monk
Unit 7: Sam Jones
PERSONNEL: Andrew Sumabat, trombone, bass trumpet; Brad Schrandt, tenor saxophone, flute; Elias Hampton, guitar; Nebee Yohannes, piano; Tony Lafaive, bass; Micah Richie, drums
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.”
