Two jazz concerts in April

The USM Vocal Jazz Ensembles and the USM Jazz Ensemble will give their final concerts of the year at the end of April in Corthell Concert Hall on the University of Southern Maine Gorham campus.

Recently featured on WCSH Ch. 6’s “207” program, the USM Vocal Jazz Ensembles, directed by Michelle Snow, will perform beginning at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 27, 2009.

The program for the Vocal Jazz Ensemble II – the first to take the stage – includes “Java Jive,” “Just for Now,” “All Blues” by Miles Davis, and “Freedom is a Voice” by Bobby McFerrin. The Vocal Jazz Ensemble I will perform a jazz arrangement of “Thriller” made famous by Michael Jackson, as well as the standard, “When I Fall in Love,” Miles Davis’ “Four,” and “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard” by Paul Simon in an arrangement by USM alumnus, Darmon Meader. Also on the program is the Vocal Combo, which is comprised of an instrumental combo with a vocalist.

Then at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, the USM Jazz Ensemble -- under the direction of Chris Oberholtzer -- will perform works from the following big bands: The Mingus Big Band, The Count Basie Orchestra, The Woody Herman Orchestra, The Bill Holman Band, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, The Bob Florence Big Band, and local writer, Terry White.

The Jazz Ensemble specializes in the best of big band music. The works on the program represent big band literature from the 1950s to the present, and have been an important part of the libraries of the bands mentioned above. All of these bands have had a profound impact on the nature of big band jazz today.

Tickets for either concert are $6 for the general public, $3 for seniors and students. Call 780-5555.