FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Mario Incorvaia, 912.921.5496
A
2005 ArmstrongFest Event
The Legacy of Duke Ellington
A Robert Ingram Strozier Faculty Lecture Series Event
Savannah,
GA—March 10, 2005—The Armstrong Atlantic State University
Department of Art, Music & Theatre (AASU AMT) presents music faculty
member, Randall Reese, to conclude the 2004-2005 Robert Ingram Strozier
Faculty Lecture Series with a special ArmstrongFest celebratory address.
Reese will tribute life and work of jazz icon Duke Ellington with
a lecture titled The Legacy of Duke Ellington on Friday, April 1 at
11:15 a.m. in AASU Fine Arts Hall, room 132.
The most influential creative force in twentieth-century popular music,
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington composed a substantial portion
of the American popular song catalog, but also left an important body
of sacred art and music that expanded the concept of jazz. In the
midst of this creative output, he found time to lead a touring orchestra
wit the most distinctive soloists in jazz. Producing hundreds of recordings,
Ellington became an articulate international spokesman for African-American
music. Reese will explore Ellington’s impact as composer, performer,
bandleader, and mentor.
Reese, AASU assistant professor of music, directs the University’s
Jazz Ensemble and teaches courses in orchestration and arranging,
counterpoint, saxophone, and jazz improvisation. He holds a doctor
of musical arts degree from the University of South Carolina, a master
of music degree from the University of Michigan, and a bachelor of
music degree from the Baldwin Wallace College Conservatory of Music.
Member of the Coastal Jazz Association and co-leader (and co-founder)
of the Savannah Jazz Orchestra, Reese has performed with Diane Schuur,
Anita O'Day, Clark Terry, Cab Calloway, Claudio Roditi, Nick Brignola,
Joey DeFrancesco, and many more. He has written arrangements for the
Cincinnati and Savannah Symphony Orchestras as well as the Hilton
Head Orchestra, including an orchestral tribute to Savannah lyricist
Johnny Mercer. The Wynton Marsalis Septet and the Augusta (Georgia)
Ballet Company performed his transcription of three Raymond Scott
compositions.
In 1992, saxophonist Bob Berg and the Savannah Symphony premiered
his Nautical Songs for saxophone, jazz trio and orchestra. Reese studied
saxophone with Larry Teal, Galan Kral and Sigurd Rascher.
Admission to The Legacy of Duke Ellington is free and open to the
public.
For more information, call 927.5381, weekdays, between the hours of
11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
