6:30 Concert Series recreates ‘Birth of Cool’ album, Nov. 29
GREEN BAY – The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s 6:30 Concert Series continues with ‘Miles Davis’ Birth of the Cool’ on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. in the Weidner Center’s Fort Howard Hall. This event is free and open to the public.
Performers will recreate the 1957 album “Birth of the Cool” — a creative collaboration between then up-and-coming trumpeter Miles Davis and innovative arranger Gil Evans. Drawing upon the influences of bebop and European impressionism and scored for an unusual instrumental nonet, this recording imagined a new future for jazz. An ensemble of UW-Green Bay music faculty and friends will recreate the album live from the restored manuscript. UW-Green Bay historian and Associate Provost Clif Ganyard and UW-Green Bay Associate Professor Adam Gaines (Music/trumpet), will provide commentary on the music.
“These are brilliant arrangements that incorporate instruments you don’t always hear in jazz, such as the French horn and tuba. Every chart takes full advantage of what these instruments are capable of, and the parts are incredibly fun to play,” says Professor Michelle McQuade Dewhirst.
Top row from left; Chris Salerno, John Salerno, Bill Sallak, Michael Dewhirst, Michelle McQuade Dewhirst
Bottom row: Steve Johnson, Kevin Collins, Adam Gaines, Kelly Galarneau
Performers for this event include members of the UW-Green Bay music faculty:
- Adam Gaines, trumpet
- John Salerno, ’76 (Environmental Science) ’73 (Communication and the Arts), alto saxophone
- Michelle McQuade Dewhirst, horn
- Kevin Collins, trombone
- Michael Dewhirst, bass
- Bill Sallak, drums
and community members:
- Kelly Galarneau ’01 (Mathematics), tuba
- Steve Johnson ’03 (Communication and the Arts), baritone saxophone
- Chris Salerno, piano
The 6:30 Concert Series is designed to connect the campus with the community through the exploration of music. Performances feature insightful presentations by performers, composers and special guests. The series offers new perspectives on diverse styles, often exploring the music from multiple angles. All performances take place in the Weidner Center’s Fort Howard Hall. They begin at 6:30 p.m. and last between 60 and 90 minutes. To learn more about the series and upcoming performances, please visit WeidnerCenter.com/630series/.
Although the performances are free and open to the public, donations are accepted for the benefit of UW-Green Bay Music.
About Fort Howard Hall
Perhaps the most versatile space in the Weidner Center, the 45’ x 54’ 200-seat, theatre-style hall features a beautiful hardwood floor and retractable seating. The privacy of the space and the hardwood floor make this a perfect location for dinners, receptions, meetings and social dancing. The retractable seating allows the hall to be transformed into a small performance space ideal for recitals and lectures.
About the Weidner Center for the Performing Arts
UW-Green Bay’s Weidner Center for the Performing Arts is known for its elegant design and the acoustic excellence of its 2,000-seat main hall, Cofrin Family Hall. It also houses two smaller performance spaces, the Fort Howard recital hall and the Jean Weidner Theatre, along with a dance studio and Grand Foyer. The Center is a home for UW-Green Bay Music and Theatre and Dance productions, community events and productions, and performances by visiting artists and touring companies. The Weidner Center has a distinct benefit in being part of a leading institution of higher learning. Beyond the large-scale touring productions that grace the stage, the Weidner Center also focuses on scholastic development, programming and an impactful education series – Stage Doors. The Stage Doors Education Series serves more than17,500 students from 63 cities throughout Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula every year. For more information on the Weidner Center, visit www.WeidnerCenter.com, 920-465-2726, 800-895-0071, or follow the ‘Weidner Center for the Performing Arts’ on Facebook, Twitter (@WeidnerCenter) and Instagram (@weidnercenter).
About the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is a comprehensive public institution offering undergraduate and graduate programs to 7,158 students. The University transforms lives and communities through exceptional and award-winning teaching and research, innovative learning opportunities and a problem-solving approach to education. For more information, visit www.uwgb.edu.
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