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Jazz Festival

42nd Annual UW-Eau Claire Jazz Festival
April 2-4, 2009


The Jazz Festival at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is one of the oldest and largest festivals in the nation offering outstanding performances by professional musicians and college and high school bands. Our festival is committed to maintaining a standard of excellence in jazz education and performance.

For information on the annual UW-Eau Claire Jazz Festival and the Jazz Studies Area at UW-Eau Claire, select the link of interest from the menu bar to the left. (Festival links will be activated as information becomes available.)

Learn more about our guest artists below.

42nd Annual UW-Eau Claire Jazz Festival
April 2-4, 2009
featuring
Chris Potter, Jiggs Whigham, Randy Sabien

Chris Potter
Jiggs Whigham
Randy Sabien

Jazz Festival Guest Artists

Jazz Festival Concerts
Fri., April 3, 2009, 7:30 p.m.
Sat., April 4, 2009, 7:00 p.m.
Eau Claire Memorial High School Auditorium

Chris Potter, Saxophone

Chris Potter
Chris Potter

“His work is remarkably free of cliches and default licks….daring yet precise, with clean edges and unexpected implications….he is something special.” --Down Beat

www.chrispottermusic.com

 

 

 

 

Jiggs Whigham, Trombone

Jiggs Whigham
Jiggs Whigham


Jiggs Whigham is an internationally acclaimed trombonist, band leader  and educator. This versatile performer, born Oliver Haydn Whigham III (the  nickname Jiggs was given by his grandfather) in Cleveland Ohio on 20 August 1943, first came to the attention of critics and fans at 17, as featured soloist and first trombonist with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, directed by Ray McKinley. Two years later, he was first and solo trombonist with Stan  Kenton. Following a year of studio and Broadway Musical engagements in New  York, he became featured soloist with the Kurt Edelhagen Jazz Orchestra at the West German Broadcasting Company in Cologne, Germany in 1965. In 1966 his was awarded 1st Prize at the first competition for Modern Jazz  in Vienna.

www.jiggswhigham.com/english.html

 


Randy Sabien
Randy Sabien

 

Randy Sabien, Jazz Violinist




When Randy Sabien (suh bean’) picks up his violin, get ready. His rhythmic, bluesy, swingin’ sound will have you bobbing your head, tapping your toes and dancing right out of your chair.

Although Randy’s muscial aspirations began by studying classical violin,  his direction did an about face the day he discovered he could play jazz on the violin. He poured himself into the music of the swing era and began teaching himself to play along with records of his favorite jazz artists. He also continued to appreciate the music of his own generation; the 60’s and 70’s. This led to inspired renditions of tunes by the Beatles, The Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers and others. Meanwhile, his own compositions developed as straight ahead jazz for violin. When he put out his first album, In a Fog, it was received with glowing reviews from Downbeat, JazzTimes, Billboard and others.

"Jazz violinists usually draw from one of two traditions. The best of both can be found in the superb Randy Sabien... he combines classical technique and folk energy in a program that’s still strictly jazz."
        USA TODAY

www.randysabien.com

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Jazz Ensemble I
Directed by Robert Baca
Jazz Ensemble I, Robert Baca, director

Jazz Ensemble I, directed by Robert Baca, is the five-time winner
of Down Beat magazine's "Best College Big Band" award.

"How rare is it to find an ensemble where talent is
the chief prerequisite and everyone involved has
the same attitude about music. . ."
--Sammy Nestico
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Contact Information for the Jazz Festival: 
Jazz Festival Office
Haas Fine Arts, 234
(715) 836-4092


Excellence. Our Measure. Our Motto. Our Goal.