SOSU Jazz Band presents “Struttin’ With Some Barbeque” —Monday, October 15

Press Release Date: 10-11-2007

Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s Jazz Ensemble will present its annual “Struttin’ With Some Barbeque” concert at 6 p.m. Monday (Oct. 15) in the amphitheater on the SOSU campus.

Smokey Allen’s will once again cater barbeque for the crowd, beginning at 5:30. The concert is free to the public, but the barbeque is pay–as–you–eat. The amphitheater is across the street north of the residence hall towers.

The Jazz Ensemble is under new leadership this year with Tod Gentzel leading the group in a varied program that will have something for everyone who appreciates jazz music. Former director Dr. Michael Miles said, “Mr. Gentzel is carrying on the proud tradition of our jazz ensemble in serving as many tastes as possible in our programming. We want everyone to be able to identify with jazz so we include some solid swing tunes, familiar vocal tunes, and a couple of hard–driving Latin charts.”

The band will add the vocal stylings of “Cat 5” to its performance this year. This 5–member group is comprised of Jocelyn Batts, Cheri Conway, Sara Hudson, Breck McGough and Weslee Vance. The group will sing “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree,” accompanied by the jazz band.

Also on the schedule are “Satin Doll,” “Summertime,” “Take the A Train,” “Zoot Suit Riot,” “Saint Thomas,” “Slow Heat,” “Cajun Cookin’,” “When I Fall in Love,” “Morning Dance,” “Moon Dance,” and “South of the Border.” “We really do try to please everyone in the audience without playing for more than an hour so everyone can get home at a decent time,” Gentzel said.

“This is a great group of students with a great deal of talent. They’ve come together very well as an ensemble in the past couple of weeks, and I’m very excited about their potential. I hope all our family and friends will come out for a beautiful evening under the setting sun as we play in the fall season.” Bring a blanket or some lawn chairs and enjoy the sounds of America’s music – jazz.