Trumpeter Paxton Marler performs a solo with the UM Jazz Ensemble at the Buddy DeFranco Jazz Festival. The group will be performing at the Seeley-Swan High School Auditorium Jan. 13 at 3 p.m.
SEELEY LAKE – Alpine Artisans' 2 Valleys Stage Performing Arts Series will be ringing in the new year with The University of Montana's Jazz Ensemble! They will present a community concert at Seeley-Swan High School auditorium on Sunday, Jan. 13 at 3 p.m.
The University of Montana has an outstanding jazz program, which includes three Jazz Bands and smaller Jazz combos. Students are selected through an audition process.
This particular UM Jazz Ensemble is broken down into two smaller ensembles, Boyd A and B. Boyd A is comprised of tenor saxophone, trombone, saxophone, guitar, bass, piano and drums while Boyd B has a slightly different instrumentation: tenor saxophone, trumpet, alto and baritone saxophone, drums, bass, guitar and piano.
The UM Jazz Ensemble is led by top-notch coaching. Rob Tapper is Professor of Trombone & Director of Jazz Studies. Johan Eriksson is Associate Professor of Saxophone and Jazz Studies. In addition, Loren Stillman functions as UM Graduate Student and Assistant.
Tapper is no stranger to the 2 Valleys Stage Performing Arts Series. We have been lucky to have Tapper and his jazz students visit and perform for us before (2014). Tapper coordinates the UM Jazz Festival, four big bands, seven small groups, an undergraduate Jazz Degree and the trombone studio. A relentless advocate for music education, Tapper was awarded a Washington State 2008 Teacher of the Year Award, was inducted into the WMEA Hall of Fame (2012) and has also received a Spokane Arts Commission Contributions to Education Award.
As an active performer and teacher in both classical and jazz idioms he has performed, adjudicated and recorded at many festivals, concert halls and conferences in orchestral, jazz and commercial settings around the United States, Europe and Canada. Tapper is currently Principal Trombone in the Missoula Symphony and has degrees in Music Education (UNH) and Jazz and Commercial Media (Eastman). Tapper is a Getzen clinician and performs exclusively on Getzen trombones
Eriksson is a versatile performer specializing in jazz and classical genres. Originally from Onsala, Sweden, Eriksson holds a D.M.A in saxophone pedagogy/performance from the University of Northern Colorado. Dedicated to music education, Johan spent five years as a band director in Illinois and has taught public school kindergarten through 12th grade music. His students have won scholarships at prestigious schools such as the University of Michigan, Juilliard Conservatory, Lawrence Conservatory, Berklee College of Music, North Texas University, Cincinnati Conservatory, Michigan State University, University of Northern Colorado, Northern Illinois University, University of Oregon, University of New Mexico and the New England Conservatory.
These talented musicians will bring skillful solo improvising, dynamic ensemble work and plenty of excitement to their performance. We hope to see you there! Tickets will be available at the door, adults $14, seniors $12, age 18 and under are free with an attending adult.
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