Jazz Band Concert Is April 18

The UTC Music Department Jazz Band concert, directed by Erika Schafer, will take place in Roland Hayes Concert Hall, 752 Vine St. on April 18 at 7:30 p.m. The concert is presented free of charge and is open to the general public.

The concert will include classics as “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head”, by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen, “Why Don’t You Do Right?” by Kansas Joe McCoy and “Sweet Georgia Brown” by Ben Bernie, Maceo Pinkard and Kenneth Casey.

Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen’s classic “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head” was initially recorded and made famous by Dean Martin in 1960. Since then it has been performed in numerous renditions, most famously in the original movie Ocean’s 11 (1960) and more recently in Ocean’s Thirteen (2007). In addition to a variety of singers, it has appeared in various movies, advertisements and even videogames, placing it amongst the most iconic of jazz tunes.

“Why Don’t You Do Right?” was originally written in 1936 by Kansas Joe McCoy under the title “Weedsmoker’s Dream: Why Don’t You Do Now?” and performed by the Harlem Hamfats. It was later rerecorded in 1941 and performed by Lil Green, after having undergone some rewriting by McCoy. The song deals with themes that were common following the Great Depression and prohibition, yet has its roots firmly placed in blues music. Since then, it has been recorded by several artists. The first to do so were Benny Goodman and Peggy Lee in 1942, merely a year after Green’s performance. It was to become Lee’s first single.

Considered a jazz standard, “Sweet Georgia Brown” was originally written in 1925 by Ben Bernie and Maceo Pinkard, with lyrics by Kenneth Casey. Since it was first recorded and made famous by bandleader Ben Bernie, resulting in a five week number one hit, it has become the widely known theme song of the Harlem Globetrotters and has been recorded by several well-known performers including; Ethel Waters, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis, Nancy Sinatra and the Beatles.

Also included in the program will be the highly scandalous, but popular Cole Porter tune “Love for Sale”, from the musical The New Yorkers, based on Buddy Richs’ recording from the 1967 album Big Swing Face; James Browns’ chart from 1969, “The Chicken”, written by Alfred James Ellis and Duke Ellingtons’ “Main Stem” along with many other jazz favorites.

Previously featured soloist of the United States Navy Band in Washington, D.C., Dr. Erika L. Schafer is now in her fourth year as Trumpet Instructor and Assistant Director of Bands at UTC. She performs regularly with the Chattanooga Symphony and the UTC Faculty Brass Quintet and, is a founding member of New Dischord, a Chattanooga-based performing ensemble featuring new music in collaboration with other artists.

For information regarding this or any other UTC Music Department performance, see the Music Department website at http://utc.edu/music, or call the Music office at 425-4645.

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