UNM JAZZ BANDS WITH GUEST CONDUCTOR GERALD WILSON AT OUTPOST

Nov. 18, 2003

UNM JAZZ BANDS WITH GUEST CONDUCTOR GERALD WILSON AT OUTPOST
DEC. 3-4

For more than 50 years, Gerald Wilson has been recognized as a premiere composer, arranger and bandleader in modern jazz.

The University of New Mexico Department of Music is sponsoring a weeklong visit from Wilson, Monday Dec. 1, through Friday, Dec. 5.

In addition to working closely with UNM students, Wilson will conduct the UNM Jazz Bands as they perform some of his original compositions at the Outpost Performance Space on Wednesday, Dec. 3, and Thursday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m.

Wilson has garnered his share of accolades, including five Grammy nominations, top big band and composer/arranger honors in the Downbeat International Critics Poll; the Paul Robeson Award; the NEA American Jazz Masters Fellowship, and two 1997 American Jazz Awards for best arranger and best big band.

In 1996, Wilson received the rare honor of having his life's work archived by the Library of Congress.

Wilson's latest CD from MAMA Records, the double Grammy-nominated "Theme for Monterey" (1999 best large jazz ensemble performance; best original composition: "Romance"), chronicles three recent works.

The UNM Jazz Bands have appeared throughout the Southwest performing with such guest artists as James Moody, Randy Brecker and Bill Watrous.

For the fall 2003 semester, the bands are directed by noted ethnomusicologist Steven Loza, Ph.D., UNM professor of music and recently appointed director of UNM's Arts of the Americas Institute.

"Gerald Wilson is one of the most underrated figures in the history of jazz. It is a very rare and special opportunity to have him here in Albuquerque and working with UNM students," Loza said.

"This is another in a series of UNM Department of Music and Outpost Performance Space collaborative concerts featuring avant-garde music and jazz by the premiere composers and performers of our time," said Steven Block, Department of Music chair. "UNM is honored to have one of the greats, Gerald Wilson, working with us and fortunate to have eminent scholar and jazz artist Steven Loza as the guest director of the Jazz Band this fall."

Tickets for the Outpost performances are priced at $7/$5/$3, and are available at the UNM Box Office (277-4569) or through tickets.com.

The Outpost Performance Space is located at 210 Yale SE in Albuquerque (across from UNM). For more information, call UNM's Arts of the Americas Institute, 277-2286.

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