The Catawba College Vernaculars and Jazz Nucleus will present a joint concert on Thursday, November 11th at 7:30 pm. Fallout 2004 will feature the songs of Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder in addition to well-known jazz and blues works. The event, to be held in the Hedrick Little Theatre on the Catawba campus (Salisbury, North Carolina), is free and open to the public.
The Catawba College Jazz Nucleus is a student ensemble dedicated to the performance of authentic, improvisation- oriented small group jazz and blues. Its size provides student members (both instrumental and vocal) with the opportunity to develop their improvisatory skills and ability to interact with others musically through the realization of lead sheets rather than stock arrangements. The group draws its musical inspiration from the music of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and other leaders of post-bebop jazz as well as more recent trends.
Rare among college/university ensembles, the Vernaculars are dedicated to the performance of contemporary popular (aka vernacular) music. The group’s basic instrumentation includes lead and background vocals, guitar (electric and acoustic), bass, keyboards, horns (trumpet, trombone, saxophone), and drums. Each semester's repertory comes from three primary sources: important legacy works that have established the foundation of contemporary popular music, recent songs of artistic value, and original pieces by members of the ensemble. The Vernaculars also provide music majors pursuing a concentration in music business with opportunities to gain managerial experience. Both the Vernaculars and the Jazz Nucleus are under the direction of Associate Professor of music Dr. David Lee Fish.
The Vernaculars will open Fallout 2004 with Stevie Wonder’s funky classic "Superstition" to introduce several student singers new to the group this school year. The Jazz Nucleus will then take the stage with guest saxophone soloist Jack Murray to perform the jazz standards "Killer Joe," "Birdland," and "Watermelon Man." The group will conclude its part of the program with the well-known blues numbers "Mustang Sally," "In the Midnight Hour," and "Wang Dang Doodle." The Vernaculars will return to close Fallout 2004 with a suite of songs made famous by Aretha Franklin, "The House that Jack Built," "Respect," "Natural Woman," and "Think." Both groups will spotlight the talents of senior music business student and vocalist Katie Troutman.
For more information about Fallout 2004, please contact the Catawba College Music Department at 704-637-4280 or visit www.music.catawba.edu/fallout.htm.
