USC Thornton Jazz Orchestra to perform famed works
Photo courtesy of USC Thornton School of Music
All that jazz · The musicians of USC’s Jazz Orchestra will perform a set of contemporary pieces under the direction of Bob Mintzer, head of the Jazz Studies department, at Ground Zero Perfomance Café.
On Thursday, the renowned USC Thornton Jazz Orchestra will perform at Ground Zero Performance Café at 7 p.m. The performance is part of the orchestra’s ongoing jazz night series, which has taken place throughout the semester, typically on Thursday evenings. The event will showcase not only the talented, vibrant musicians of the highly selective jazz studies program at the University, but also the contemporary pieces that they have been mastering throughout the semester.
Bob Mintzer, chair of the Jazz Studies program, will direct the ensemble. Mintzer’s ensemble features undergraduate students who play a variety of instruments, including drums, trombones and trumpets.
Mintzer is not only a revered faculty of the USC Thornton School of Music, but for the past 40 years, has been a prominent contributor to jazz music. Well-educated in his craft, Mintzer attended the Hart College of Music and the Manhattan School of Music, where he learned to play the saxophone and the bass clarinet.
He is also a seasoned performer who has ventured to musical festivals and events across the country. He has been a member of a variety of musical groups, some of which include the Thad Jones Mel Lewis Big Band, the Buddy Rich Big Band, the Bob Mintzer Big Band and, most notably, the Yellowjackets, a Grammy award-winning band that has been performing since 1977.
In educating his jazz students, Mintzer, as well as other faculty members in the Jazz department, seeks to prepare his students to become professional, working musicians. He trains them in a variety of styles and also gives many of them a chance to perform in professional ensembles — an opportunity that is often unavailable to undergraduate musicians.
Beyond the professional exposure, Mintzer encourages his students to connect with their music, and in turn better hone their craft.
“When working with students, my objective is to inspire their desire to develop personal and systematic pathways toward becoming a better musician,” said Mintzer in an interview with the Thornton School of Music. “Tricks of the trade and commentary on a student’s work are part and parcel, but it ultimately hinges on the work each student does on his or her own to connect with the music”
Students are welcome to attend this upcoming Jazz Night performance and experience the dynamic repertoire of these adept musicians.
The event will take place on Thursday and is open to the public. Seating is provided on a first-come, first-served basis. No RSVP is needed.