USF Faculty Ensemble "Birth of the Cool"

Birth of the Cool is one of many classic recordings from the legendary Jazz Pioneer, Miles Davis. This is in celebration of what would have been his 100th birthday. Birth of the Cool was recorded in 1947 and released as a full album in 1957. Some of the musicians on the original recording besides Miles Davis on trumpet, who was the featured soloist, were Gerry Muligan on Baritone Saxophone, JJ Johnson on Trombone, Lee Konitz on alto saxophone. This was a nonet that included French Horn and Tuba along with piano, Bass and Drums. This landmark work and recording featured Gil Evans as the primary composer and arranger as well as works from Gerry Mulligan.

Recreating this is the USF Faculty Jazztet featuring USF’s newest Faculty member, Derek Ganong on Trumpet as well as every member of the nonet being a School of Music Faculty member, mostly from the Jazz Studies area. Here are the members:

Derek Ganong, Trumpet

Tom Brantley, Trombone

Aaron West, Alto Saxophone

Ross Strauser, Bari Saxophone

Lyndsie Wilson, French Horn

Joseph Alvarez, Tuba

Pablo Arencibia, Piano

LaRue Nickelson, Guitar

Mauricio Rodriguez, Bass

David Rudolph, Drums

Reserve your seats asap for what promises to be a stunner of an evening!