The hip sound of big bands

by Kyle Warren '96

One of the necessities of playing jazz is to play not only for other people, but with other people. The members of the WPI Jazz Groups have stayed true to this philosophy in the past by visiting area colleges and high schools as well as performing overseas in various foreign countries. This time they have invited a fellow college group as well as a world famous guest musician. On March 27 at 8:00PM in Alden Hall, the WPI Stage Band will host a joint concert with the Bentley College Jazz Workshop. The guest musician, scheduled to sit in with the WPI Stage Band, is Rick Stepton.

Rick Stepton's credentials read like a who's who of jazz. He has performed with an outstanding number of big bands such as Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Maynard Ferguson, Chuck Mangione, Herb Pomeroy, Gunther Schuller, Kenny Hadley, and Orange Then Blue. He has made numerous appearances at some of the country's most famous festivals including the Boston Globe, Newport Jazz, Concord, Guiness, and Monterey. Mr. Stepton has even appeared on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

March 27 promises to be a night of fantastic entertainment. The WPI Stage Band, Bentley College Jazz Workshop, and Rick Stepton team up to bring hours of wonderful music in Alden Hall at 8:00PM. Admission is free.

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