STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — On Tuesday, Feb. 26, at 9 p.m., Wagner College will offer its 3rd annual Tribute to Black Music in the Campus Hall Performance Center. The public is invited; the performance is free.
The program will pay homage to the spiritual and gospel tradition, and will celebrate the lives of many important figures from the world of jazz: Oscar Peterson (1925-2008), Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington (1899-1974), Billy Strayhorn (1915-1967), Thelonius Monk (1917-1982), Milton Nascimento (b. 1942), Charlie Parker (1920-1955), John Coltrane (1926-1967), Clifford Brown (1930-1956), Bennie Golson (b. 1929) and Jon Hendricks (b. 1921) — and all in just 90 minutes!
Wagner College has hired an excellent jazz band for the occasion. The band consists of Laura Dreyer (alto and flute), Barbara Lee (piano), Mike Hogan (guitar), Steve Marks (bass) and Todd Isler (drums).
The best Treble Concert Choir the college has ever had (according to Prof. Roger Wesby) will open the program. They will be followed by performances from two very fine vocal ensembles, the Jazz Lab and Wagner’s very own semi-professional Stretto. Several extraordinary soloists will also perform, including:
Anthony Babino (vocals and guitar), Prof. Robert “Doc” Delfausse (piano), Evan Jagels (bass) and Karl Emigholz (drums) will perform a special tribute to Nat “King” Cole (1919-1965).
“Some of us have been preparing this tribute since August 2007,” said choir director Roger Wesby. “The student performers are quite wonderful and have poured themselves into this project. I am hoping that they will not be performing for empty chairs.”
