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One of the most revered and influential composer-bandleaders in America, William Russo died January 11, 2003 of pneumonia at the age of 74. Russo created the critically acclaimed Chicago Jazz Ensemble, was the founder of Columbia College Chicago’s Music Department, and was Director of Orchestral Studies at Scuola Europea d’Orchestra Jazz in Palermo, Italy. Russo’s career spanned five decades and included performance, conducting and composition work with talents as diverse as Duke Ellington, Leonard Bernstein, Cannonball Adderley, Yehudi Menuhin, Dizzy Gillespie, Seiji Ozawa, and Billie Holiday. Critics have acknowledged Russo for his pioneering contributions to the big-band jazz canon.
www adres: www.chijazz.com
Maria Schneider, born in Windom, Minnesota, arrived in New York City in 1985 after studies at the University of Minnesota, the University of Miami and the Eastman School of Music. She immediately sought out Bob Brookmeyer to study composition. At the same time she became an assistant to Gil Evans, working on various projects with him, but most notably, the film The Color of Money and music for the Gil Evans/Sting tour in 1987.
In the latest years she’s been invited to conduct Evans’ music extensively featuring such musicians as Jon Faddis, Wallace Roney, Miles Evans, Ingrid Jensen and David Sanborn.
www adres: www.mariaschneider.com
is composed of 19 professional military musicians who perform throughout Europe representing the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Directed by United States Army First Sergeant Bruce Malone, the SHAPE Orchestra is modeled after the "Big Bands" of the 1940's. The group's diverse repertoire includes selections ranging from Count Basie, Glenn Miller and the "old standards" to present-day composers like Rob McConnell and Tom Kubis. Since their inception in 1985, the SJO have performed for thousands of people throughout Europe and North Africa, establishing a reputation of excellence by bringing experienced, talented and enthusiastic musicians to the stage.
www adres: http://www.shapeband.be/