Jazz legend Miles Davis will be the inspiration for this year'sperformance by The University of Memphis' own Faculty Ensemble nextweek.
The Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music will present the FacultyEnsemble's "Birth of the Cool" Tuesday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m. atthe Memphis Drum Shop.
The professors/musicians welcome everyone to come check out thisunique performance.
"This performance will expose people to something they wouldotherwise never get to hear," said Jack Cooper, director of jazzstudies and studio music.
The group will recreate the music from "Birth of the Cool", aMiles Davis album from 1949. They will also perform music by GerryMulligan, Gil Evans, and The U of M's own Jack Cooper, who wrotethree pieces for the evening.
"Miles Davis went in the opposite direction of the music beingplayed at the time," Cooper said. "He created a new genre."
The style of jazz the faculty members will be playing is calledcool school.
The ensemble members include David Spencer on trumpet, JackCooper on alto sax, Tom Link on baritone sax, Dan Phillips onFrench horn, John Mueller on trombone, Charles Schultz on tuba,Chris Parker on piano Tim Goodwin on bass and Don Patterson ondrums.
"I decided to do this because this group incorporates manyfaculty members and a wide range of instruments," Cooper said. "Weare playing music from a pivotal group in the history of jazz. Themusic itself is important because it is such a divergence from whatwas being played at the time.
"We will talk to the audience about the pieces we perform. Itwill be a history lesson of the time, too."
Cooper is very excited to be performing with such a talentedgroup.
"I like the sound of the group. They are well-spoken andrehearsing with them has been an enjoyable experience," saidCooper.
"I'm just along for the ride," said Dan Phillips, French hornplayer and associate professor at The U of M. "They put a horn inmy hand and say 'play this' and I do it."
In addition to the jazz ensemble, Phillips is also involved withthree other faculty groups and has enjoyed recreating the sound ofa group from the late 1940s and early '50s.
"Recreating 'The Birth of the Cool' has been lots of fun,"Phillips said. "The music is very listenable, light and enjoyable.We are a small jazz ensemble with lots of energy, and the audiencecan expect to hear a large amount of improvisation."
Cooper said the faculty ensemble presents a unique opportunityto U of M students.
"People will not get to hear this music anywhere else," saidCooper. "It is hard to get a group together like this andplay."
Admission to the show is free. The Memphis Drum Shop is locatedat 828 S. Cooper Street. For more information, call the Rudi E.Scheidt School of Music at 678-2547.
