KINGSTON, R.I. — April 14, 1999 — Here’s something to toot about. URI’s Big Band will head to New York City on April 29 to perform at the famed Lincoln Center.
The band’s program consists of songs by the late, great Duke Ellington who has come to be regarded as one of the foremost musicians of the 20th century. Ellington wrote more than 1,200 compositions and lead the Duke Ellington Orchestra for 50 years. Although he did not invent the musical medium of the jazz orchestra (the big band), Ellington popularized it, gaining fans in all segments of American society and abroad.
URI’s Big Band will perform Ellington in honor of Ellington’s 100th birthday which is being celebrated throughout the world this year. The actual birth date is April 29, the same day the URI Jazz Band performs.
The band is scheduled to play for an hour as part of the Lincoln Center’s spring afternoon concert series. The URI group will also get a chance to tour the facilities.
URI’s Music Department Jazz Program, under the direction of Professor Joe Parillo, has been establishing a name for itself over the past few years. Each spring since 1991, it hosts a Jazz and World Music Festival on the Kingston Campus. The festival has brought in such jazz greats as vibraphonists Gary Burton and Jay Hoggard, pianist JoAnn Brackeen, trombonist Hal Crook, and guitarist Mick Goodrick.
The URI Big Band began recording in 1992. The same group took first place at the MIT New England Jazz Festival in 1994. Since then, the band has been playing throughout the state and New England.
Parillo will conduct the band at the Lincoln Center. Violinist and URI Music Professor Ann Danis will be a guest performer with the URI Big Band. The trip is supported by the College of Arts and Science’s Hope and Heritage Fund. Listed below are the 23 students (with their hometowns) who will perform at the Lincoln Center:
Name Hometown
Nahum Mitnik Barrington, R.I.
Mike Myers Barrington, R.I.
A.J. Rapp BayShore, N.Y.
Louisa Gelfuso Burrillville, R.I
Phil Monte Cranston, R.I.
Ray Votolato Cranston, R.I.
Rick Silvia Darmouth, Mass.
Kerrie Shirley Kingston, R.I.
Paul Saunders North Kingstown, R.I.
Andrew Wiza North Kingstown, R.I.
Gregg Charest North Smithfield, R.I.
Rebecca Bilodeau Queensbury, N.Y.
Julie Raimondi Scituate, R.I.
Cheryl Nowak Spencer, Mass.
Chris Lee Syracuse, N.Y.
John Fulton Topsfield, Mass.
Valerie Improta Warwick, R.I
Wendy Watkins Warwick, R.I.
Steve Pasetti Westerly, R.I.
Matthew Maley Westerly, R.I.
Sarah Wood Westerly, R.I.
Chris Bellotti West Warwick, R.I.
Jarrod Gorman Woonsocket, R.I.
For More Information: Joe Parillo, 874-2765
Jan Sawyer, 874-2116
