Manhattan Transfer/Detroit Jazz Festival Orchestra & special guest Gerald Wilson
5:30–7:30PM, Carhartt Amphitheatre Stage
In 2009, the 10-time Grammy-winning Manhattan Transfer celebrated its 40th anniversary, earning the right to be credited as “the most enduringly creative vocal group in jazz history” (JazzTimes). Along the way, the group has recorded 23 albums, including 1985’s landmark album Vocalese (which received a near-record 12 Grammy nominations) and their latest, The Chick Corea Songbook (2009). All About Jazz hailed the latter performance, noting, “. . . Manhattan Transfer has captured the magic [of Corea’s music], singing with a captivating balance of charm and verve. Their harmonies are still impeccable and, while key to the overall impact, the solo voice also contributes to the soul of the music.” The current edition of the Manhattan Transfer consists of Alan Paul Winchinsky, Janis Siegel, Cheryl Bentyne and Tim Hauser, backed by Yaron Gershorsky (piano), Steve Hass (drums), Adam Hawley (guitar) and Gary Wicks (bass).
Joining them is the Detroit Jazz Festival Orchestra featuring bandleader and trombonist Dennis Wilson. Currently a member of the University of Michigan faculty, Wilson has performed on over six Grammy-winning albums with the Count Basie Orchestra and worked with many jazz greats, including Sarah Vaughan, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Clark Terry and Joe Williams. The orchestra is comprised of Peter Kahn (alto sax), Wes Anderson (alto sax), Diego Rivera (tenor sax), Andrew Bishop (tenor sax), Mark Kieme (baritone sax), Scott Belck (trumpet), Dwight Adams (trumpet), John Douglas (trumpet), Paul Finkbeiner (trumpet), Chris Smith (trombone), Vincent Chandler (trombone), George Bohannon (trombone), Randall Hawes (trombone), Ellen Rowe (piano), Robert Hurst (bass), Chris Buzzelli (guitar) and Pete Siers (drums).
The orchestra will also perform works by the legendary Gerald Wilson, one of the premier composers, arrangers and bandleaders in modern jazz. Wilson has earned six Grammy nominations, received two American Jazz Awards and had his life’s work archived by the Library of Congress. Notable commissions include one for the 40th anniversary of the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1998 and his 2009 suite, Detroit, which celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Detroit Jazz Fest.
