University of Mary Washington Jazz Ensemble
Doug Gately, Director
The ensemble is made up of students majoring in all areas of study. The UMW Jazz Ensemble performs contemporary jazz arrangements as well as standard big band literature. Members receive instruction in performance techniques, jazz history, theory, improvisation, and an analysis of elements of style and interpretation of music found within the jazz idiom. The Ensemble performs for various events on and off campus. Major concerts are presented each semester. The UMW Jazz Ensemble hosts the annual UMW Jazz Festival, performing with national and international “name" Jazz Artists. Within this ensemble is the formation of the UMW Sextet and other smaller groups that perform at various events. The ensemble is open to all students by audition.
UMW Jazz Festival
The University of Mary Washington Jazz Festival. was created by the UMW Department of Music to bring quality Jazz to the university and the community as part of the Unversity’s continual support for the Arts. The festival is designed to enrich the UMW student musical experience and explore an important part of of America’s rich musical heritage and cultural diversity. Each year local, National, and International Jazz Artists are invited to perform with the University of Mary Washington Jazz Ensemble. Past participants in the Festival include, Nasar Abadey, Dave Bandman, Joshua Bayer, Wade Beach, James King, Tony Lakatos, James Moody, Vaughn Nark, Marty Nau, Tom Williams, Bruce Middle, Ron Gordon, U.S. Navy Commodores, U.S. Army Blues, and the Capital Bones.
The UMW Music Department has also created a High School Honors Jazz Ensemble to perform at the festival. Student musicians from local high schools are invited to the university to form a unified All-Star Jazz Ensemble.
For information in participating in the Festival please contact Doug Gately at dgately@umw.edu
UMW Jazz Festival 2010
Dodd Auditorium, George Washington Hall
3 p.m., Sunday, April 11, 2010
The University of Mary Washington Jazz Ensemble will host the annual UMW Jazz Festival on Sunday, April 11,in George Washington Hall, Dodd Auditorium. The festival will feature outstanding jazz saxophonist,Chris Vadala performing with the UMW Jazz Ensemble. Opening this years festival is the celebrated Robert Redd Trio.
Come join this evening of great live jazz. The festival is free and open to the public and tickets are not required.
Festival Schedule
Performances
3:00 - Robert Redd Trio
4:00 - UMW Jazz Ensemble with Chris Vadala
Chris Vadala
Chris Vadala website
The festival will feature outstanding jazz saxophonist,Chris Vadala. Mr. Vadala's performing career has been highlighted by a long tenure as standout woodwind artist with the Internationally recognized Chuck Mangione Quartet. performing credits on five gold and two platinum albums, plus two Grammy, one Emmy, one Georgie (AGVA) and one Golden Globe Award. In addition, he has performed and/or recorded with such greats as Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones, B.B. King, Chick Corea, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Placido Domingo, Sarah Vaughn, Natalie Cole, Herbie Hancock, Ray Charles, Henry Mancini, Doc Severinsen, Phil Woods, Joe Lovano, and many others.
Robert Redd
Robert Redd website
Robert Redd, born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area, began playing music as a trumpet player at the age of twelve, and began performing professionally while still in high school. While continuing to perform and study the trumpet, he began to develop a serious interest in the piano and decided to make the switch at age twenty-three. He re-established himself as a piano player and was soon very much in demand.
Robert was a member of the Keter Betts trio for 13 years, until Betts’ death in 2005. The trio performed many concerts and festivals and could frequently be heard at venues such as the Kennedy Center and Blues Alley. They performed regularly throughout the school year at Wolf Trap as part of Early Learning Through the Arts, a program which Betts helped start and develop, presenting live music to young audiences. Robert is a member of the Wolf Trap Jazz Trio which continues to present this program.
From 1995-1998, Robert was pianist and musical director for singer/songwriter Kenny Rankin. While touring with Rankin, he performed with Michael Moore, Oscar Castro-Neves, Roy McCurdy and John B. Williams, among others. They appeared regularly at venues in New York City such as The Rainbow and Stars and The Bottom Line, and performed in the guest artist series with the U.S. Air Force Band at DAR-Constitution Hall, in Washington, D.C.
Robert worked often as a member of the Charlie Byrd Trio, and can be heard on Charlie Byrd’s last recording, “For Louis”. Other recent recordings include “Bouquet Chorale” (Summit Records) featuring Marty Nau and legendary saxophonist Phil Woods, and “When Redd is Blue”, co-led with his brother, Chuck. Robert is also a QRS recording artist and has recorded two Pianomation CDs with fellow pianist Michael T. Jones for the New York-based company.
Robert teaches and performs every year during Swing Week at the Augusta Festival at Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, West Virginia. He is also a featured artist every year at the W.C. Handy Music Festival in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
As a free-lance musician, Robert has performed with Bud Shank, Houston Person, Warren Vache, Ethel Ennis, Melba Moore, Phil Woods, Mundell Lowe, Scott Hamilton, Ken Peplowski, James Moody, The Harry James Big Band, The Artie Shaw Big Band (w/Dick Johnson) and the Duke Ellington Orchestra, to name a few. He performs frequently with the Smithsonian Masterworks Organization, and is often featured at Blues Alley, where he co-leads a group with his brother, Chuck. Recent performances included a private concert in the East Room at the White House for the President, First Lady, and their guests on Valentine’s Day, 2008.
All Events are free and open to the public
For more information contact the UMW Music Dept. at (540) 654 - 1012
Doug Gately, Bio / Highlights
- Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Mary Washington.Director of the Jazz Ensemble, Flute Ensemble, and the principal instructor of flute, clarinet and saxophone at the University.
- Active performer as well as an educator. Recognized for Outstanding Service to Jazz Education from the International Association of Jazz Educators. As a multi-instrumentalist, specializing in woodwinds, toured and performed throughout the United States, Canada, South America, and Europe. Works within various jazz and classical genres including clinics, solo appearances, chamber, and club date performances.
- Credited with numerous studio recordings for commercials and CDs’, as well as making radio and television appearances.
- Leads his own jazz groups, the Doug Gately Trio and Studio Six.
- Former Artist/Clinician with Boosey & Hawkes/Buffet Clarinets.
- Former member and featured soloist with the USAF Airmen of Note, in Washington DC., the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force. (visit Airmen of Note for recordings)
- Credits include performances with Jazz Artists, Arturo Sandoval, Dizzy Gillespie, Bill Watrous, Louis Bellson, Stanley Turentine, Bob Mitzer, Jon Faddis, and Sammy Nestico.
- Credits also include performances with Natalie Cole, Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennet, Nancy Wilson, Bob Hope, Spinners, Temptations, Crystal Gayle, the Manhatten Transfer, and the National Symphony Orchestra.
- Studied woodwinds with Joe Viola at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, and is a graduate of Mary Washington College and George Mason University.
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