Ithaca College Jazz Workshop, directed by Steve Brown '64, M.S. '68
Sunday, April 13
8:15 p.m.
Ford Hall, Whalen Center
The free concert will feature the premiere of "Gracie's Delight," a work commissioned by the jazz workshop and the jazz club from Grammy-nominee Jim McNeely. Two guest artists -- vocalist Tish Rabe and jazz guitarist Bob Sneider -- will also be on the program.
A 1973 graduate of the School of Music, Rabe will sing "Sweet Angel." The music of this piece was composed by Brown to words written by Rabe, who has authored several children's books in the Cat in the Hat's Learning Library series. Based on Dr. Seuss's famous feline character, the series introduces young readers to animals, outer space, and other aspects of the natural world.
Sneider, an instructor in jazz guitar at the Eastman School of Music, will perform "Four on Six" by West Montgomery, "Darn that Dream" by Jimmy van Heusen, and Brown's "Absquatulation." Prior to beginning his teaching career, Sneider played four years with two-time Grammy winner Chuck Mangione.
Steve Brown has a lengthy history with the Ithaca College Jazz Workshop, which was founded in 1957 as a student-led group. After serving as the jazz workshop's drummer during his freshman year as a School of Music student, he took the reins as director for the remainder of his undergraduate years. After three years teaching music on Long Island, Brown returned to the School of Music to work on his master's degree and once again took over directing the group. He joined the faculty in 1968 and has led the group ever since.
Contributed by Erik Kibelsbeck
