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UNIVERSITYOF NEW HAMPSHIRE

OURFIFTY-THIRD PROGRAM THE BOBWILBER QUINTET

BOBWILBER . & SOPRANOSAXOPHONE MARKSHANE . PIANO GRAYSARGENT . GUITAR WHITBROWNE . STRINGBASS FRANKSHEA . DRUMS

SPONSOREDBY THE DEPARTMENTOF MUSIC AND THE NEW HAMPSHIRE LIBRARY OF TBADITIONAL JMZ

8 PMMONDAY NOVEMBER16, 1987 STRAFFORDFOOM MEMOBIALUNION DURHAM.NEW HAMPSHIBE THEARTIST

THEBOB WILBER OUINTET We havecommented from time to timeon thesepages about the rolesot particular inslrumentsin lhe previoushistory and current condilion ol . Certainlythe lortunes ol lhe clarinetare no particularmystery, but its lustycompanion, the sopranosaxophone, hasundergone a developmentwhich has lo sorneextenl obscured its origins.lt is today widelyused in a rangeof contemporarygenres which take it lar beyondtradilional realms,though despile this contemporaneily one often has to answer ques- "What the burning lion, ,:slhal instrument?"However, many ol us rememberwhen it was known "othe/' principallyas lhe inslrumentplayed by the greatSidney Bechet (1897-1959), ard we sonof assumedlhat it wasforbidd€n tenitory to lessermortals. one courageous soul-really the onlyone of hisgeneration---,nrho as a youngsterwas challengedrather lhan intimidatedby lhis perceptionwas BobWilber, ard he representstrue continuity with ths rools,as wellas a personallytriumphant conquest of the possibilitiesand problemsot lhe instrument. Bobwas bom in 1928inlo circumstanc€s quite ditterenl than those ot hisNew Orleans menlor,and aftergradualing from Scarsdale, N.Y. High School in 1945he lormeda band calledlhe Wrirdcatswhich played the rrusicol KingOliver and , a bold venturewhen so manyothers of lhe yourEwere being led, pied-piperlike, down the seduclivepath of be-bop.(One member of thisbard was DickWellstood of lond remem- brance.)Soon Bob was studying (and living) with Bechet,and, as theysay, the restis history: perlormancesal the FirstlntemafionalJazz Festivat in Nice in 1948,with Benny Goodmanin the 50's,original member ol lhe World'sGrcatest Jazz Aard (1969),the SopranoSummit (with ) in lhe 70's. And his rema*abledegree of rusical curiosityand versalility has led himto suchdiverse endeavors as recordirEthe clarinet chambernnisic of Mozarland Brahms,and studyingtheory wilh LennyTristano! Oneol Elob'smore recent triumphs was the soundtrackforthe film TheCofton CIub wherehe recrealedlhe Ellingtonianatrnosphere of lhat era,and for whichhe receiveda GrammyAward. Bobis recognizedin the openingcredits of thelilm, althoughnowhere in the seeminglyendless closing list ol participantscan one find the namesof the D€r- lorrnersone is listeningto whilesaid list is beingpresented - andthe musicis the only thingthal would command one's attention at thispoint! However,even before those openingcredits begin, one hearsBob's evocative orchesttation, and lhe solopiarb notes lhat emergeare those of the namelessMark Shane. Markwas drawnearly to a bluesorientation and to the lhen somewhatneglected concepl of lwo-handediazz piano. An extendedtenure as housepianist at EMie Codon's in NewYork intensilied his involvementwith lhe stylesof Jamesp. Johnson,Fats Waller, o N A ft E S THE BOBWILBER QUINTET

EarlHines, Teddy Wilson and others ol that notableheritage, and he is nowin great demandlor festival,radio, lelevision, and studio engagernents. Arnong his moresalienl accomplishmentsare lours with lhe SmithsonianJazz Repenory Ensemble, and work with the Inyra mae DanceCompany GraySargent needs no inlroduclionlo ouraudiences; arpng his morerecent appear- anceshere were lhose with his own trio lastspring, and with Boband MiltHinton in 1986. It is a pleasurelo welcomeWhil Browneand FrankShea once again. Whit covers the totalspeclrum ol theiazz scene; many ol us haveseen him-{erhaps withoulrealizing it--accompanyingOscar Pelerson on lelecaslsol the Bostonpops. Frank'shome base is the iazzcomnunity of CapeCod, where among his wide range of musicalassociales is MikeMarkaverich, our moslrecenl solo artist. Theworld of lraditionaliazz is in variousways both small and large,and tonighl's pro- gramillustrates iusl howpositive that seemingcontradicNion can be !

Tape recofders and cameras tre not permkted due to @ntractual arrangements- Your c:ooperation ls requested. THE SEBIES The UNHTraditional Jazz Seriesbegan in 1979.ll promolesthe enioymenland understandingof lhe art throughconcerts featuring musicians ol regional,national, and inlernationalprominence. The programrepresents a uniqueendeavor lo expand interesland honoroulstanding talent and achievement.

Musicianswishing to do so areencouraged to offerlheir recordings lor saleor mail orderduring intermission; a briel announcemenlmay be made.The sponsorshave no financialinlerest in suchsales beyond otlering a courtesyseNice to the artislsand ths public.

ProgramNotes - PaulVerretle Produclion- DavidSeiler

THE SCHEDULE

September 14 Dave Whltney Qulntet October 19 Mlke Mad€vellch: Soto Plano November 16 Bob Wllb€r Qulnet December 7 Paradlso Clty Jazz Band February I Jay Mcshann & : Two Planos March 7 Jlmmy lilazzy & Frlends Explore lhe Banio Aprll 11 Red Rose Ragtlme Band