Isthmus Jazz Series Coordinator
With all of the great history being highlighted at the Union Theater this year, I thought it would be good to highlight the great history of the upcoming Union Theater Isthmus Jazz Series performers - the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra.
In 1965, Thad Jones (trumpeter and composer from the Count Basie Band) teamed up with drummer Mel Lewis (drummer for Stan Kenton) to form the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra. This group recorded many influential big band albums, including my personal favorite, "Consummation". The group also recorded a fantastic album with vocalist Joe Williams called "Presenting Joe Williams" which I would recommend to anyone. The band was made up of some of the top musicians of the time, and at some point in time included trumpeters Cecil Bridgewater, Jon Faddis and Snooky Young; trombonists Jimmy Knepper and Eddie Bert; Saxophonists Jerome Richardson, Eddie Daniels, and Joe Lovano; pianists Roland Hanna and Hank Jones; and bassist Richard Davis (who is currently a UW professor).
After the deaths of both of the band's formers and arrangers, the group took the new name "The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra" to honor the place where the group has gotten, and continues to get together on Monday nights since 1966. Keeping with the clubs name, the music is always leading the way in new developments and ideas of big band music. The group is still made up of some of the top musicians of the time, which I will highlight in a later blog entry.
I hope you can make it to this performance - don't forget: the UW Jazz Orchestra will be opening, featuring music from the original Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, and student compositions.
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