Western Michigan University Jazz Orchestra with Bobby Watson
2:30–3:30PM, Absopure Waterfront Stage
The 18-member Western Michigan University Jazz Orchestra has received international acclaim for its high performance standards and creative approach to big band jazz. The band is a three-time winner in the college big band category of the DownBeat annual student music awards. It has also received 25 consecutive “Outstanding Band” awards at the Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival and appeared in featured performances for the International Association for Jazz Education Conferences. The ensemble's albums, Spritely Overdue, Disposable Income, Blue Miles, Sweet Tango, Cosmosis and Boogaloo Land, have all received rave reviews in numerous publications. The orchestra will be joined by special guest Bobby Watson, one of the premier alto saxophonists of his generation and one-time leader of the celebrated hard-bop ensemble HORIZON (also appearing this weekend). The WMU Jazz Orchestra is conducted by Dr. Scott Cowan with Tommy Proulx (sax), Theo Kuepfer (sax), Ben Schmidt-Swartz (sax), Henry Koperski (sax), Evan Connell (sax), Matt Matuszek (trumpet), Curtis James (trumpet), Johnathan Ailabouni (trumpet), Michael Gozzard (trumpet), Killian Williams (trumpet), Eric Bowman (trombone), Hana Beloglovec (trombone), Erik Dancy (trombone), Laura Dubin (piano), Brad Hatfield (guitar), Sam Weber (bass), Evan Hyde (drums) and Craig Freeman (drums).
