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UNIVERSITYOF NEW HAMPSHIRE

OURFIFTY.FOURTH PROGRAM THE PARADISECITY JAZZBAND

SPONSOREDBY THEDEPARTMENT OF MUSIC ANDTHE NEW HAMPSHTRE LIBRABYOF TRADITIONALJAZZ

8 PMMONDAY DECEMBER7. 1987 STRAFFORDROOM MEMORIALUNION DURHAM,NEW HAMPSHIRE THE ARTISTS

THEPARADISE CITY JAZZ BAND

We hopethal th€r€ is somethingmusically special about each ol ourevsnls, but tonight lhal qualily is furth€renhanced by geographicalconsiderations. Among ths announcsdplioriti€s ol lhis seri€s lromits starthas b€sn a @mmitmsntto NewEngland artisls, and ahhough we havetappgd ihe resourc€sof ths Wssl Coastand sevsral inlervening locations, lhe ParadlgoClly JazzBand isth€ lirsttrom western Massachusstts to grac€our slage. "ecl€ctic ThePCJB describes its€lf as dayingan mixol jazzand swing styl€s kom the 1920's, '30s,and '40s,... wsllgfounded in the musicol Ellington,Armstrong, Beiderbscks, 8asi6...". Th€ mostimmsdiatsly arrosting attribute ol th€ groupis lh€ relationshipol ils instrum€nlationto this r€psrtoife;the lattsrwould sesm to demandmoro than th€ form€rcan supply, given the mnspicous abssnceol a r€edinstrument. Howevor, any such apprshensions are swittly and dramatically dispell6d;th€imaginalive arranging of TomMcolung and Dave Pinardic,ombin€ with the improvisa- torys€nsilivily ot €achindividual to gsnerateresults Mh satisfyingand refreshing.

Thekey to thismagic is the subtl€uss ol lhe medlodicand ensemble possiblitities ol lhe guitarand piano,a sortol "sl€ightof €ar"(l), done with convincing musicaljudgement. (This writer recalls lirst- handexp€rience in th6 1950swith a Dixieland-orientedunit whsr€ D€tens€ D€pl. prioriti€s caus€d th€ replacementof th€ trumpetplay€r by a guitarist;whatever transgr€ssions againsl traditional moralitymay havs occurred thersby pal€ in lightof morer€cent public usages of ths "leadguitar', pres€ntcompany €xcluded.) Moroovsr, lhe interchangeof banjowith guitar and luba with string bassprovid€s both contrast in colorand authenticity in flavor.All in all,we ar€constantly remindsd ol lhe clngruityof ths NewOrl€ans and swing idioms, whatsvsr their dslsclable diflerences.

Thsband's name r€l6rs to Northampton,Mass., its homebase, and doubtloss has some mystical significancounknown to us horeon the ssacoast.Mor€ imporlantly, since its lormation in 1992the PGIB hasbeen reaching over-wid€ning audisncss in NewEngland and New York stat€, last y€ar giving150 p€rformances. This has happ€nod because of ihe group'scapachy and eagerness to communicatein a varistyof settings-concerls,clubs, dances, parties, cruisss, coff€€ houses, educationalprogramF, lhus demonstrating that this music can be respond€dto in numerousways. Ev€nlshave included dales at theStlcky Wlckel, Worc€tsrs's El lllorocco,lhe ClarkArt Instltulo in Williamstown,Channel 57 in Spingtield,and the Presldentlallnauguratlon at SmithCollege. Andoarly this ysar lheir first recording, Blowin'the Blues Away, was issuedon Paraphone Records.

Ev€rymember ol this ensembl€d€votss mosl ol histime lo the musicprofession, and this commit- mentincludes espousal of th€ valuesand vitality ol a perfomingtradition often thought to be not openlo lreshapproaches. They €ngage in theirart with enlhusiasm, originality, and above all, lov€. Ths Paradls€Clty JazzBand is trulya bandlor all ssasons,and wo wdcom€lhem to UNH withadvance thanks for the verylact ol theirsalubrious enlerprise. k THE PARADISECITY JAZZBAND

DAVEPINARDI - Comet& lrumpel JIMFRYER - Trombone TOMMCCLUNG - Piano DAVEHUXTABLE. Banio& guitar RICHARDDOWNS _ Tuba& slringbass PHILORI- Drums

Tape recorders end cemeras erl' not permitted due to contractual arrangemenls. Your cooperation ls requested. THE SERIES The UNHTraditional Jazz Series began in 1979.lt promotesthe enjoymentand understandingol the art throughconcerts featuring musicians ol regional,national, and intemationalprominence. The programrepresems a uniqueendeavor lo expand inlerestand honoroutstanding talent and achievement.

Musicianswishing'lo do so are encouragedlo offerlheir recordings lor saleor mail orderduring inlermission; a briefanrpuncement inay be made.The sponsors have no financialinterest in suchsales beyond otfsring a courtesyservice to the artistsand the public.

ProgramNotes - PaulVerrette Production- DavidSeiler

THE SCHEDULE

September14 Dave Whltney Oulntet October 19 ,Mlke llarkaverlch: Solo Plano November16 ,Bob.wllberQulnlet December7 ParadlseClty Jazz Band February 8 Jay;,llcShann& RalphSritton: Two Planos March 7 Jlmmy ilazzy & Fdends Explorethe Banio Aprll 11 Rqg Rose RagtlmeBand