Ouachita Stories

The Ouachita Baptist University Jazz Band will present its spring concert in Jones Performing Arts Center on Ouachita’s campus at 7:30 p.m. on April 3.

The band will open the concert with two Gordon Goodwin pieces, “El Macho Muchacho” and “Mueva Los Huesos,” George and Ira Gershwin’s “Fascinating Rhythm” as arranged by Sammy Nestico, Herbie Hancock’s “Maiden Voyage” as arranged by Mark Taylor and Jeff Jarvis’ “Pig-Lickin’ Blues.” These selections will feature solos by Joe Anderson, Jon Cole, Kristin Cordell, Craig Denison, Vince DiCarlo, Alex Goff, Matt Gudino, Alissa Hill, Brandon Knight, Jody Lee, Cyrus Morris and Michael Proctor.

Jon Cole, trumpet, will also be featured on Sammy Nestico’s arrangement of Benny Golson’s “I Remember Clifford.” Percussionist Alan Thomas will be featured in “Take Five” by Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond and arranged by Dave Wolpe.

Vocal soloist Leslyn Ichter will be featured on Dave Wolpe’s arrangement of George and Ira Gershwin’s “Love is Here to Stay,” Roger Holmes’ arrangement of Victor Schertzinger and Johnny Mercer’s “I Remember You” and Paul Murtha’s arrangement of Jesse Harris’ “Don’t Know Why.” Ichter is a junior choral music education major from Conway, Ark.

Saxophonists for the band are Alissa Hill, a sophomore instrumental music education major from Bella Vista, Ark., and Cyrus Morris, a sophomore instrumental music education major from Katy, Texas, both on alto sax; Alex Goff, a freshman music theory and composition major from Nashville, Ark., and Jordan Henry, a junior instrumental music education major from Greenbrier, Ark., both on tenor sax; and Brian Matney, a sophomore church music major from Gravette, Ark. on baritone sax.

The band’s trumpet players include Jon Cole, a senior music major from Dallas, Texas; Craig Denison, a sophomore church music major from Dallas, Texas; Matt Gudino, a senior instrumental music education major from Kaufman, Texas; Leslie Monk, a senior biology major from El Paso, Texas; and Channing Mullino, a freshman undecided major from Mesquite, Texas.

On trombone are Vince DiCarlo, a junior music major from Azle, Texas; Cameron Jones (bass), a freshman music major from Fort Worth, Texas; Ashley McCarty, a freshman music major from Benton, Ark.; Andrew McCraw, a freshman instrumental music education major from Fort Worth, Texas; and Michael Proctor, a freshman music major from Arlington, Texas.

Other instrumentalists include Joe Anderson, a junior music major from Hot Springs, Ark., and Kristin Cordell, a senior piano performance and Spanish double-major from Fort Smith, Ark., on piano; Nathan Courtright, a sophomore music major from Rowlett, Texas, and Brandon Knight, a sophomore Christian ministries major from Searcy, Ark., on guitar; Tyler Kemp, a sophomore music theory and composition major from Bolivar, Mo., and Jody Lee, a senior musical theatre major from Arlington, Texas, on bass; and Mike Kizzar, a junior music and biology double-major from Canfield, Calif., and Alan Thomas, a senior music major from Redfield, Ark., on drums.

The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, contact OBU’s School of Fine Arts at (870) 245-5129.