Northeast Wisconsin Music Review

Performance: Big Band Jazz

Birch Creek Music Performance Center

Egg Harbor , WI

July 18, 2007

The Big Bands are Back

Indeed they were – and absolutely in the plural. This year, it seems the faculty band would have to battle a bit to take honors from the student ensembles heard this first night out. First, we heard an excellent edition of The Ambassadors, Birch Creek’s elite student combo. Playing a pre-concert set in the granary, they impressed us as one of the best yet to be heard at the campus; just how fine they were was to be confirmed the following night when they appeared at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Door County in Sister Bay . A sturdy front line and a rhythm section of real quality (with a shockingly fine 15-year-old pianist) marked this as a group to hold anyone’s attention. Read our next review for details.

As the concert began with student Lab Band (BC’s senior ensemble), we were immediately aware the something rare was afoot. While other years have brought some exciting students bands to the stage, this was something altogether different. Other student groups, no matter how fine, had nowhere near the weight and visceral kick delivered by this crew. The later arrival of the faculty band made it manifest: this Lab Band closely matched the Academy Band in raw power and even gave them a run for the money on the matter of polish. And this was their first night out! In addition, a family crisis in the life of director Jim Warrick had removed him from this year’s schedule at the last minute and alto man John Wojciechowski, who was unable to perform at Birch Creek this year because of other obligations, broke away to come for a single intensive day of rehearsal. Meanwhile, program Director Jeff Campbell added his talents to preparing the band – and, wonder of it all, the students were in crackling form for opening night as they received news that another BC faculty member was to arrive the following day to assume leadership for the remainder of the two week session. Despite their trials, the band delivered in full.

In addition to being a powerhouse gang, this band boasted a large number of fine soloists, first among them being Zac Shaiman, heard before as a tenor soloist, but this year playing first alto. His shaping of the band’s leading edge was assured, forceful and exciting. Throughout their three numbers, culminating with “Night in Tunisia ,” the ensemble bristled and roared like a professional jazz band, lifting the audience right from their seats.

While challenged by their students, the Academy Band pros made their sovereignty known with the beginning number, “Jazz Me Blues,” as tenor man Mike Lee built the first of a succession of throat-seizing solos, exercising his immaculate control of the altissimo register to thrilling effect. The faculty at Birch Creek remains exceedingly stable, but this year brought a fine new solo trumpet, Leonard Foy, who played with brilliance and artistry all night (along side Joey Tartell, that indefatigable master of the lead trumpet). Another highlight in the first half came with lead alto Anton Denner’s fluent combo take on “Like Someone in Love,” rolled out with fluency and craft.

Amidst other traditional jazz charts in the second half, another combo moment featured trombonist Audrey Morrison in a glowing version of “Stella by Starlight.” Bella Stella, without question. Morrison’s burnished lower register flowed like molten gold, wrapping this jazz standard in radiance. Helping in no small degree was pianist Michael Stryker who has ascended into the stratosphere, playing with wide-roaming imagination and a technique that has expanded to realize all his rapturous creativity. Monk’s “Round Midnight” brought another riveting performance, here dressed in a Marty Paich arrangement. Elsewhere, trombonist Tom Garling sustained his front-line ranking as a soloist to set the pulse racing and bassist Jeff Campbell and drummer Bob Chmel were their expected terrific selves. After a ripping, concert-ending “Whirly-Bird,” Campbell turned for an encore to another in-the-moment head arrangement, this one labeled “First Week Blues.” With Tom Garling and Mike Lee asserting their invincibility, the improvised send-off boiled with high heat, sealing one’s certainty that the big band tradition continues to thrive at Birch Creek.

On a final, very sad note, Jeff Campbell informed the audience during the concert of the recent death of faculty guitarist Bob Borgstede. Bob had become a truly splendid artist during his Birch Creek years and his death is a grievous loss to the institution. Our most sincere sympathies go to his family. (Erik Eriksson)