Free evening of jazz tonight
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 13 years, 2 months AGO
A free concert featuring the NIC Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Co. choir takes place tonight at 7:30 p.m. in North Idaho College's Boswell Schuler Performing Arts Center and is open to the public.
The performance coincides with the college's JazzNIC music education program.
Each year, JazzNIC attracts hundreds of middle and high school music students from districts throughout the region to NIC's downtown campus for three days of jazz clinics.
The young musicians perform for special guest clinicians during the event.
Clinicians include University of Idaho professor Dan Bukvich, who is also an internationally-known composer whose works have been performed at the Lincoln Center and the Vatican. University of Idaho professor and band conductor Alan Gemberling will also provide feedback to students. Lewiston High School band director Gary Gemberling, Alan's brother, is the final clinician. He is active with the Idaho Music Educators Association and is an acclaimed performer, including performing as a soloist with the Spokane Symphony.
The clinicians will also be featured soloists in tonight's concert.
The NIC Jazz Ensemble will perform a special commissioned piece by Bukvich titled "Radio Blues" honoring the life of longtime Coeur d'Alene resident Tom Emerson. The jazz piece has a blues flavor and tributes Emerson's passion for music and his connection to New Orleans having worked there for a number of years. Tom is the son of Tom Emerson, Sr., a former North Idaho College trustee, as well as the brother of honorary alumnus Sandy Emerson and brother-in-law of Jeanne Emerson, a retired English instructor who taught at NIC for more than 30 years.
Other pieces performed by the NIC Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Co. jazz choir and guest clinicians include "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby" arranged by Tom Tucker, "Fanfare for the Common Cat" by Dan Cox, "Sing, Sang, Sung" arranged by Gordon Goodwin and the Blood, Sweat and Tears song "God Bless the Child" with Gary Gemberling on lead vocals.
Information: (208) 769-3276 or www.nic.edu/events.
