Jazz orchestra comes to IU

Thirteen years ago, David Baker had a vision. The IU Distinguished Professor of Music wanted a way to convey jazz music the way the composers and arrangers intended it to be played. In order to re-create original big band jazz music, he needed a talented orchestra capable of reconstructing the music of the biggest jazz masters. \nHe needed "a vehicle to play the masterworks," Baker said. \nAs a result of this vision and goal, Baker helped found the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, an orchestra specifically aimed at exploring, presenting, promoting and perpetuating the historical legacy of jazz. \nWith the group of 18 selected musicians, Baker was able to recreate the true big band jazz music and to rekindle the public's interest in the heritage of jazz.\nTo date, the SJMO has performed in nine foreign countries and seemingly countless venues across the United States, including the White House. \nWhile the SJMO has strong Bloomington connections -- Baker is also the chairman of IU's jazz department and several members of the SJMO are handpicked alumni -- the orchestra has yet to perform in Bloomington. \nThat changes Aug. 5, when the SJMO makes its Bloomington debut.\n"Ultimately there's nothing quite as satisfying as playing for friends, colleagues and the people here who have been fans for years," Baker said. "It's really important to be able to play for the people who are so close to me."\nThe group will perform selections of various jazz masters in a concert entitled "100 Years of Jazz" at 8 p.m. at the Musical Arts Center. The concert is a part of the late July portion of the school's annual Summer Music Festival.\n"100 Years of Jazz" will have something for everyone, as Baker describes it. \nThe first half of the show will include music from before 1945, while the second half includes music composed after 1949. Music by prominent jazz composers such as Jelly Roll Morton, George Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn and Quincy Jones all will be featured throughout the program.\n"We want to show the evolution of the big band music," Baker said. "We'll also dip into the music of those people we've done homage to in the last five years, like Quincy Jones."\nIn addition to hearing the music of the jazz masters, the Bloomington audience will also experience the talents of several Hoosier natives, whose skills will be showcased during the concert. School of Music jazz studies alumni Shannon LeClaire (alto saxophone) and Brent Wallarab (trombone) will perform, as well as doctoral student Lennie Foy (trumpet) and faculty member Joey Tartell (trumpet). Royce Campell, a former guitarist for musicians Henry Mancini and Marvin Gaye, also will perform. \n"We have a good nucleus of former IU players," Baker said. "It's truly a star-studded band"