Sundown Jazz Series
Glen Davis Quartet with
Dave Sterner, Rock Wehrmann & Dallas Coffey

The first Sundown Jazz Concert for the 2007-078 season will take place at 4:00 on Sunday, September 16, in Cleveland State University’s Drinko Recital Hall, featuring the Glenn Davis Quartet, with Dave Sterner, Rock Wehrmann and Dallas Coffey.

Glenn Davis grew up in the Cleveland area studying drums with Bob McKee, and at sixteen he was already playing for parties and country club dances.  In 1979 he graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from the Berklee College of Music in Boston where, in addition to drums, he studied vibraharp, marimba, tympani, composition, harmony and arranging.  Among his teachers were John LaPorta, Gary Burton, Joe Hunt and Alan Dawson.

At the time Boston was a hotbed of jazz performance, and among those with whom Davis worked were guitarists Mike Stern, and Jeff Richman, bassist Santi Debriano, pianist Emil Viklick, and trumpeter Tiger Okoshi.

Moving to New York City in the 1980s, Davis had a long-term engagement with The Rino Minetti Quartet, while subbing Broadway and off-Broadway shows, and performing with The Benny Salzano Quintet featuring Steve Turre.  As a writer, Davis has contributed solo transcriptions of Max Roach and Philly Joe Jones to The Modern Drummer magazine.

Returning to the Cleveland area, Davis quickly became one of the busiest drummers on the scene.  He performs regularly with his own quartet and co-leads the popular group Images.  He is also a regular member of the Kol Simca Orchestra and freelances with several other groups, including the Joe Hunter Trio, The Stokes Brothers, John Morton, Dave Sterner, and Charlie Christopherson.

As always, this concert is free and open to the public.

Drinko Recital Hall

Istanpitta

Drinko Recital Hall

CSU Chamber Orchestra
CSU Graduate Chamber Ensembles
Victor Liva, conductor

Edvard Grieg, Two Norwegian Airs
Felix Mendelssohn, Sonfonia No. 11 in F major
Timothy Beyer, Intermezzo

Drinko Recital Hall

CSU Jazz Ensemble
John Perrine, conductor

Drinko Recital Hall

Keyboard Conversations
with Jeffery Siegel

FABULOUS FRENCH FARE
Sensuous sonorities! Program includes Debussy's beloved Clair de lune, Poulenc's sassy Impromptus, Saint-Säens's spine-tingling Danse Macabre, and Ravel's enchanting Fountain.

Waetjen Auditorium

CSU Orchestra
Victor Liva, conductor

Anton Dvorak, Symphony No. 9 (From the New World)
Gioacchino Rossini, Overture to La Gazza Ladra
Kirk O'Riordan, Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra
with John Perrine, alto saxophone

Waetjen Auditorium

CSU Faculty Recital
John Perrine, saxophone
Svetana Villanov, piano

Drinko Recital Hall

La Follia

Drinko Recital Hall

CSU Wind Ensemble
Howard Meeker, conductor
Vadim Vilinov, guest conductor

Shostakovich (arr. F. Hunsberger) Festive Overture, Op. 96
Tschesnokoff (arr. B. Houseknecht) Salvation is Created
Shostakovich (arr. V. Vilinov) Symphony No. 7, Mvt 1: Allegretto

CSU Percussion Ensemble
Matthew Bassett, conductor

Granados Spanish Dance
Novotny Intentions
Hetrick Tip of the Andes

Waetjen Auditorium

Unsworth Jazz Quintet

Drinko Recital Hall

Sundown Jazz Series
Mark Kleinhaut Trio

The Sundown Jazz Series, the longest running jazz concert series in Northeast Ohio, is pleased to present Cleveland newcomer, guitarist/composer Mark Kleinhaut and his trio with Kip Reed on Bass and Matt Perko on drums.
New to Cleveland, Mark Kleinhaut has performed with some of the most respected names in the jazz world, including a Jazzweek Top 20 recording with Bobby Watson and a remarkable album with trumpeter Tiger Okoshi.   His recordings have helped to establish his reputation not only as a performer, but also as a composer with over 50 recorded works, several of which will be featured in this performance.

A jazz guitarist for nearly thirty years, Mark Kleinhaut has developed a highly personal sound and recognizable voice on his instrument.  His clean guitar tone recalls the great tradition of mainstream jazz guitarists like Wes Montgomery and Pat Martino, but his playing avoids the too-familiar jazz jargon in favor of a personal and highly evolved vocabulary that is melodic and passionate.  Those already familiar with Kleinhaut’s work will instantly recognize his trademark blend of infectious melody, open improvisation and brilliant technical execution, while newcomers will discover jazz that is modern and forward yet steeped in jazz traditions.  Kleinhaut combines acoustic and electronic sounds to create music that is fresh yet familiar, cerebral and fun at the same time. 

Bassist Kip Reed splits his time between Cleveland and New York City, where he is one of the most in-demand players, playing with an impressive list of notable artists ranging from Joe Lovano to Donna Summer.  He has toured extensively with Tania Maria and Liquid Hips and his love of Brazilian and world-beat music combined with his background in rock, funk and jazz make him one of the most flexible players on the scene today.

Matt Perko spent his teenaged years drumming with Cleveland’s best jazz musicians, and has since performed throughout the Northeastern region of the United States, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and Austria.  Kleinhaut notes that, “Perko’s musical radar is so precise that it feels like he knows what I’m about to play even before I do.”

Drinko Recital Hall

CSU Chorus and Chorale
Betsy Burleigh, conductor
William Shaffer, accompanist

Brahms Zigeunerlieder
Schumann Zigeunerleben
Works of Kodaly and Grieg

Drinko Recital Hall

Faculty Recital
Elizabeth Unis Chesko, soprano

Musica D'Arte
Presents America the Beautiful, a tribute which features the works of some of our most popular American composers and their contributions to the world of music. The performers include Elizabeth Unis Chesko, soprano, Sean Gabriel, flute, Eric Ziolek, piano, and our featured guest this year, pianist Angelin Chang, winner of the 2007 GRAMMY Awards for Best Instrumental Soloist Performance with Orchestra.

Drinko Recital Hall

Sundown Jazz Series
Paul Stranahan Insomnia
with
Alan Gleghorn, Jeremey Poparad & Paul Stranahan

PSI, led by drummer Paul Stranahan, is dedicated to performing all original music that includes elements of jazz, progressive rock, fusion, avante-garde, metal, funk and just about anything else on any given night.  The band - drawing its influences from musicians such as Frank Zappa, John Zorn, Meshuggah, John Scofield, Claudia Quintet, King Crimson, Weather Report and Miles Davis, - attempts to strike a balance between structured compositions and free-form improvisations,

Paul Stranahan has been playing percussion professionally for twenty years, and has been a bandleader since 1999, when he decided he wanted to focus on the kind of creative music that is his passion.  Prior to that time he played in various bands that specialized in indie-rock, reggae, country, R&B, big band jazz or Top 40.  He has also played drums on and written songs for the self-titled CD of the Experimental band Broadview Collective and the jazz-rock-fusion band Rare Blend. 

Alan Gleghorn began playing electric bass in high school and attended Bowling Green State University where he studied with Jeff Halsey and Chris Berger.  Since returning to the Cleveland area in 2004 he has worked as a sideman with several groups between Cleveland and Toledo, playing mostly straight-ahead jazz on upright bass.  Alan has shared the stage with Bob Fraser, Bob Ferrazza, Paul Samuels, Tony Pulizzi, Gene Parker, Bob Szmik, Mark Gridley and Ki Allen, among many others.

Jeremey Popard is an Akron area guitarist/bassist who performs regularly with jazz, rock and fusion bands.  He graduated from the University of Akron with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Jazz Studies and Music Composition and, in addition to PSI, has worked with the rock band Alexander the Ghost and various jazz groups, including his own trio and quartet.  Jeremey has recently completed a CD of all original compositions, featuring himself on guitar, Bryan Thomason on bass, and Paul Stranahan on drums.

As always, the concert is free and open to the public.

Drinko Recital Hall

CSU Chamber Orchestra
CSU Graduate Chamber Ensembles
Victor Liva, conductor

Arcagelo Corelli, Concerto Grosso op. 6 no 7 in D major
Ermano Wolf-Ferrari, String Serenade

Drinko Recital Hall

Faculty Recital - An Evening of J.S. Bach
Art Klima, viola
Nicole Keller, harpsichord

BWV 903, Chromatic Fantasy in D minor
BWV 1011, Cello Suite No. 5 in C minor
BWV 1027, Gamba Sonata No. 1 in G major

Drinko Recital Hall

CSU Orchestra
Victor Liva, conductor

Robert Schumann, Concerto in A minor
with Ovidiu Marinescu, cello
Peter I. Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 5

Waetjen Auditorium

WCLV Live Broadcast
Howie Smith and Rock Wehrmann

Some things old
Some things new
Some things borrowed
But no Blues

The Music Department of Cleveland State University presents a concert by Howie Smith and Rock Wehrmann. 

Saxophonist Howie Smith has worked with musicians, organizations and composers as diverse as Luciano Berio, Dee Dee Bridgewater, John Cage, the Cleveland Orchestra, Elvis Presley, and the Tone Road Ramblers.  His recorded performances range from the big bands of Phil Wilson and Frank Mantooth to the Australian quartet Jazz Co/op to saxophone concertos by Edward Miller, Salvatore Martirano and David Baker.

Keyboard artist Rock Wehrmann is in much demand in the Midwest as an arranger, producer, soloist and accompanist. He has appeared as a featured soloist with the Cleveland Orchestra, and performed at the presentation of the Pulitzer Prizes. His background includes a degree in pipe organ from Kent State University, the position of Artist-in-Residence for Moog Music, and appearances on recordings by prominent jazz artists such as Pat Metheny, Chick Corea, and Herbie Hancock.

The concert will include a diverse repertoire that spans music from the past 350 years, most of it, obviously, not originally written for the saxophone.  Music of Catalani, Chopin, and Dvorak, as well as the real classical literature for the saxophone – written for the days of vaudeville - will appear on the program.

Drinko Recital Hall

CSU Wind Ensemble
Howard Meeker, conductor

Gershwin (arr. D. Hunsberger) Rhapsody in Blue
with Sarah Szu-Yu Chen, piano

CSU Percussion Ensemble
Matthew Bassett, conductor

Albright Take That
Mackey Mass
White On Solid Ground

Waetjen Auditorium

CSU Jazz Ensemble
John Perrine , conductor

Drinko Recital Hall

Keyboard Conversations
with Jeffrey Siegel
Gala 20th Anniversary Concert
Keyboard Concerto Conversation!
With the Cleveland State University Wind Ensemble

AMERICA: FASCINATIN' RHYTHMS
A celebration of America and its musical greatness - from patriotic tunes of Gottschalk to jazzy blues of Gershwin to music of Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland and Scott Joplin.

Waetjen Auditorium

CSU Chorus and Chorale
Betsy Burleigh, conductor
with the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus
Frank Bianchi, conductor

Britten Rejoice in the Lamb
and Seasonal Repertoire

Waetjen Auditorium

Sundown Jazz Series
Kevin Muhammad
with
Phill Jones II & Robert Hubbard

On December 9 the Sundown Jazz Concert will present Kevin Muhammad with Phill Jones II and Robert Hubbard.

Kevin Muhammad began playing double bass at Cleveland’s East High School when he was seventeen years old.  Not at all disadvantaged by such a relatively late start, he has worked locally with the likes of Donald Ayler, Greg Bandy, LaFayette Carthon, Kenny Davis, Cecil Rucker and Howie Smith.  He has also worked with internationally known musicians such as Gary Bartz, Donald Byrd, Mulgrew Miller, and Mark Whitfield.

Phillip K. Jones II began playing drums in church when he was only four years old, and later learned how to play organ from his father and grandmother.  After a year at Hampton University he returned to Cleveland and attended Tri-C for two years, studying with Rodney Hubbard, Joe Hunter, Jackie Warren, Drene Ivy and LaFayette Carthon.  He is currently attending Oberlin University, where he studies with Dan Wall, and he is a regular member of the Bill Ransom Trio.

Robert Hubbard Jr. is a gifted and respected drummer, producer and instructor.  He began his musical career in Cleveland playing with Frank McComb and LaFayette Carthon, and he worked with Lamar Gaines’ Trio at the Boarding for two years.  He has also worked locally with Evelyn Wright and Skip Gibson.  On the national scene he has worked with Men At Large, Gerald Levert, r. Kelly, Angela Bofield, Sean Jones, and numerous others.

Drinko Recital Hall

Sundown Jazz Series
Jack Zucker
with
Wilbur Krebs & Nathan Douds

On January 20 the Sundown Jazz Concert will present guitarist Jack Zucker, bassist Wilbur Krebs and drummer Nathan Douds.

Jack Zucker has played, performed and studied jazz guitar for over 30 years.  Studies have been with Pat Martino, Howard Roberts, Herb Ellis, Barney Kessel and Andrew White, and he has performed with the likes of Eddie Baccus, Paul Bollenbeck, Marc Copeland, Jamey Haddad, Paul Horn, Bruce Hornsby, Joe Lovano, and Dan Wall, to name only a few.  In addition to working with pit bands and Broadway shows in the DC area, he has many local jazz performances to his credit in both the DC and Cleveland.  He has also performed on live broadcasts of the Today Show and numerous other television and radio broadcasts.

Jack has taught privately and at various universities for over 20 years and is the author of Sheets of Sound for Guitar, a unique and exciting book that deals with melodic and harmonic technique on that instrument.

Wilbur Krebs is a native Clevelander who has returned after spending time in San Francisco where he worked with Green Day, RatDog, and was a regular member of Alphabet Soup.  In addition to a busy performance schedule, since returning to Cleveland Wilbur has been associated with Galahad Records and Recording Studios in Bedford.

Nathan Douds is freelance percussionist, pianist, and educator in the Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Youngstown areas.  A graduate of Youngstown State University, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in percussion performance, he is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies in applied piano at Bowling Green State University.

He has worked with many diverse artists and groups including Joe Lovano, John Hollenbeck, the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, the Diamonds, the Coasters, 24 Hour Usa, The Warren Philharmonic Orchestra, and several touring musical productions.

As always, the concert is free and open to the public.

Drinko Recital Hall

Sundown Jazz Series
Paul Ferguson Jazz Octet

On February 10 the Sundown Jazz Concert will present the Paul Ferguson Jazz Octet, featuring Paul Ferguson, Jason Smith, Pete Cumming, Chris Anderson and Eric Rowles on trombones, Dan Murphy on piano, Dave Morgan on bass, and Chris Baker on drums.

Paul Ferguson enjoys a rich career as a trombonist, composer/arranger and educator.  As a performer he has worked with the bands of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Woody Herman, Nelson Riddle and many others.

Paul is regarded as one of the top composer/arrangers in jazz today, and his music consistently receives critical acclaim.  In 1996 he was invited to Berlin to record a CD of his compositions with the Berlin Radio Jazz Orchestra, and the resultant CD was released as Blue Highways.  He has also released CD's titled Friends, Live at the Bop Stop and High Anxiety Bones. 

Much of his time today is spent arranging for the Cleveland Pops Orchestra and the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra.  Jazz Vespers, a collection of sacred music arranged for jazz ensemble, will be premiered in a concert at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Cleveland Heights on February 29, and repeated at the Cleveland Bop Stop on March 8.

Paul is also an outstanding educator and is a member of the music faculties at both Cleveland State University and Case Western Reserve University.

Drinko Recital Hall

WCLV Live Broadcast

Drinko Recital Hall

Concert in Progress
Howie Smith

Since 1981 Smith has presented an annual evening of his original music written specifically for the musicians who have appeared on each concert.  Previous concerts have featured performers as diverse as keyboard artists Mike Nock and Jim McNeely, bassist Abraham Laboriel, members of the Cleveland Orchestra, electric violinist Michael Dreyfuss, actor/director Reuben Silver, the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, the Jazz Unit, and a 60-piece saxophone ensemble.

This year’s concert will bring back a format Smith has used in the past, combining elements of pre-composed and improvised music.  While some of the works have already been written, others may have little more than a title prior to their performance, and the only musician scheduled to appear is Smith, himself.  Although past concerts may give an indication of what might be in store, one is never sure what direction he will take once the music begins.

A virtuoso saxophonist, composer and jazz musician, Howie Smith has presented concerts and workshops throughout the United States, Canada, South America, Europe and Australia, and has worked with musicians, composers and ensembles as varied as Anthony Braxton, Gary Burton, Dizzy Gillespie, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Elvis Presley, John Cage, Pauline Oliveros, the Cleveland Orchestra and the Tone Road Ramblers.  His recorded performances are equally diverse and his extensive catalogue of compositions includes works for conventional big bands and combos; for string, wind and percussion ensembles; for electronics; and for mixed media.  Recordings of his work may be heard on the Philips, Polydor, Albany, Optimism and Sea Breeze labels.

As always, the concert is free and open to the public.

Drinko Recital Hall

CSU Orchestra
Victor Liva, conductor

Cesar Franck, Symphony in D minor
Student Solo Competition Winners - TBA

Waetjen Auditorium

*** CANCELLED ***
Due to the Clinton/Obama debate being hosted by CSU

CSU Chamber Orchestra
CSU Graduate Chamber Ensembles
Victor Liva, conductor

J.S. Bach, Concerto for Violin and Oboe in C minor
with Hanne-berit Hahnemann, violin and Rebecca Schweiger, oboe
Ernest Bloch, Concerto Grosso No. 1

Drinko Recital Hall

CSU Jazz Ensemble
John Perrine, conductor

Drinko Recital Hall

CSU Wind Ensemble
Howard Meeker , conductor

CSU Chorus and Chorale
Betsy Burleigh, conductor

due to inclement weather Keyboard Conversations has been

*** RESCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY APRIL 27, 2008 ***

Keyboard Conversations
with Jeffrey Siegel

Waetjen Auditorium

due to inclement weather SUNDOWN JAZZ has been

*** CANCELED ***

Sundown Jazz Series
Lev Polyakin

Drinko Recital Hall

Cleveland Contemporary Players
Andrew Rindfleisch, Music Director
presents

San Antonio Chamber Choir
Scott MacPherson, conductor

Drinko Recital Hall

WCLV Live Broadcast

Waetjen Auditorium

McLean Mix

Drinko Recital Hall

CSU Percussion Ensemble
Matthew Bassett, conductor

Drinko Recital Hall

Cleveland Contemporary Players
Andrew Rindfleisch, Music Director

In collaboration with the Cleveland Institute of Music
Margaret Brouwer, New Music Director
presents

Mosaic Quartet

Drinko Recital Hall

WCLV Live Broadcast

Drinko Recital Hall

CSU Chamber Orchestra and Chamber Ensembles
Victor Liva, conductor

Aaron Copland, Two Pieces for String Orchestra
J.S. Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G for Two Flutes and solo Violin

Drinko Recital Hall

Opera Theater Workshop
Elizabeth Unis Chesko, director

Drinko Recital Hall

CSU Chorus and Orchestra
Betsy Burleigh and Victor Liva, conductors

Sergei Rachmaninov, Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor
with Angelin Chang, piano

Waetjen Auditorium

CSU Wind Ensemble
Howard Meeker, conductor

Waetjen Auditorium

CSU Jazz Ensemble
John Perrine, conductor

Drinko Recital Hall

Keyboard Conversations
with Jeffrey Siegel

Waetjen Auditorium

Cleveland Contemporary Players
Andrew Rindfleisch, Music Director
presents

Slee Sinfonietta
David Felder, Artistic Director

Drinko Recital Hall