News

November 9, 2006

Not your father's big band
Gem City Jazz Ensemble's contemporary arrangements liven up the ol' standards and make them fresh again.

by Dave Richards
Erie Time News Staff Writer

You could say the Gem City Jazz Ensemble's repertoire is all over the map -- a little "St. Louis Blues," a shot of "Sweet Home Chicago," and a blast of "New York, New York."

But that's just geography. Baritone saxophonist Sam Seggi likes how Gem City also spans the ages, playing not just big-band artists you know and love such as Glenn Miller, Stan Kenton, and Woody Herman, but contemporary arrangements that liven up the ol' standards and make them fresh.

This isn't just your father's big-band music, in other words, though he'll probably enjoy the Gem City Jazz Ensemble, too. The 20-person group will perform a free concert Tuesday at the Blasco Library's Hirt Auditorium. "There are some newer arrangements that are done by some of the newer bands today, which are probably a little more challenging because of they way they're arranged. That's always a nice edge," said Seggi, who also plays in Gem City's larger concert band. "That's what's nice about it. The charts we have are terrific."

Band director Tim McKinney employs charts by such modern-day arrangers as Tom Kubis and Matt Catingub, among others.

"These guys are fantastic. They do great music," said McKinney. "Catingub is an American Indian, and he's got a fantastic band that will blow your mind."

For Seggi, using newer charts for some tunes -- such as Kubis' arrangement of "I've Been Working on the Railroad" -- makes the jazz ensemble more fun. So does the opportunity for soloing on something like the late Maynard Ferguson's "Coconut Champagne." "I prefer the jazz band. It's just my personal preference," Seggi said. "It's probably a little more of a challenge for the instrument I play to be with the jazz band."

McKinney says the soloists who step out joke about which order they'll go in by quoting an old Abbott and Costello routine.

"Generally, in rehearsal we'll have it worked out. My big deal is, when I get up there, I don't want to forget which three improvised parts are coming. So I'll say, 'Who's on first?' and Don Haener will say, 'I'm on first,' and Fred Haener will say, 'I'm on second,' and the trombone player will say, 'I'm on third!'"

These solos aren't written out. They're spontaneous.

"It's something that comes out of the soul of the person who's playing," McKinney said. "They improvise and play what they feel." McKinney feels the Gem City Jazz Ensemble has come a long way since it started. Getting younger players involved helps. Though membership skews older, Dave Wingenbach, a 17-year-old senior at McDowell, recently joined on trumpet.

"He's pleasant to be around, enthusiastic, and I can't tell you how great he plays," McKinney said.

He's also excited the jazz ensemble will play at the PMEA District 2 Jazz Festival on Feb 16 at Fort LeBoeuf.

"That gives this older band a chance to play for these younger musicians," McKinney said.

For now, they're gearing up for Tuesday's concert at Blasco Library, which will feature a wide-ranging program from Santana ("Smooth") to polka ("Beer Barrel Polka") to those newer charts and geographical favorites. They packed Blasco the previous year and hope to do it again.

"What the library is doing is great. It enhances music in this area," McKinney said. "We're pleased they asked us to play, and it gives us the opportunity to play for the general public. It's nice to see the community appreciative of big-band jazz,"

Gem City Jazz Ensemble will perform Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Blasco Library's Hirt Auditorium, 160 E. Front St. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted for Gem City.