Robert Spring clarillet Mike Kocour Jazz Trio Evelyn Smith Music Theater Friday, March 23, 2007 7:30 p.m. MUSIC erbergerColleu of Fine Arts'-' ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY Program Songs from A Bill Evans Set List "How My Heart Sings" Earl Zindars "Falling Grace" Steve Swallow (Both of these selections were favorites of jazz pianist Bill Evans. He recorded them multiple times throughout his career.) Michael Kocour, piano John Sims, bass Brian Connolly, drums II. Corker for clarinet and percussion Libby Larsen (1989) Oncoming traffic for clarinet, marimba and jazz piano Michael Kocour (2006) Round of the Goblins Antonio Bazzini Robert Spring, clarinet J.B. Smith, percussion Andrew Campbell, piano Michael Kocour, piano Robert Spring is Professor of Clarinet at Arizona State University. He has been described as "one of this country's most sensitive and talented clarinetists", Arizona Republic, "dazzled his audience...flawless technique", The Instrumentalist Magazine says of his recording, "Dragon's Tongue", a CD of virtuoso music for clarinet and wind band, "His musicality and technique make this recording a must for every CD collection." Fanfare Magazine says of the CD, "Tarantelle", music that the famous violinist Jascha Heifetz recorded on violin,being performed on clarinet, "This recording was meant to amaze and, man, it succeeds." The America Record Guide writes about his recent recording of the Copland Clarinet Concerto, "Spring...is fabulous in the Copland. His phrasing is elegant swing tailored with great flow and a spread of tone colors and expressive subtleties. His low and mid-range are especially warm, rich, and embracing and highly effective in the introduction and in the bridge to the jazzy finale. And boy what a finale! The pace is neatly judged to pick up at critical junctures so that, by the end, it feels like an improvised jam session." Spring was President of the International Clarinet Association from 1998-2000 and has performed for twelve International Clarinet Association conventions. He hosted the 1995 International Clarinet Association ClarinetFest at Arizona State University. Dr. Spring is also principal clarinet of the ProMusic Chamber Orchestra of Columbus, OH. Michael Kocour is an Associate Professor and the Director of Jazz Studies at Arizona State University. Hailed by the Chicago Tribune as "one of the most sophisticated pianists in jazz," Kocour has performed at the 1992 World's Fair in Seville, the Jazz Showcase in Chicago, the Blue Note in New York, and the Chicago, Montreal and Quebec City Jazz festivals. Among the many artists and ensembles with whom he has appeared are Dizzy Gillespie, Eddie Harris, James Moody, Eddie Daniels, Randy Brecker, Benny Golson, Ira Sullivan, Carl Fontana, Dewey Redman, Lew Tebackin, and the Chicago Symphony. His recorded work as a studio musician includes soundtracks to two major motion pictures, and numerous television commercials. He has eight works published by Warner Brothers, which include collections of original compositions and arrangements for piano. J. B. Smith is Professor of Percussion Studies at Arizona State University. He is internationally recognized as a performer, composer, educator and conductor having performed and recorded with musicians such as Steve Reich, Daniel Lentz, George Crumb, Chinary Ung, Sal Martirano, Chou Wen Chung, Lou Harrison, Morton Subotnick, Mary Ellen Childs, Arthur Weisberg, Alex Acuna, Robert Spring, John Bergamo, Len " Boogsie" Sharpe, Liam Teague, Robert Chappell, Brad Dutz, and Anthony Braxton. He is director of the ASU Contemporary Percussion Ensemble that was featured in performances at the 1991 and 2002 Percussive Arts Society International Conventions. As a member of /11 Nitt the Desert's Edge Clarinet-Percussion Duo with Dr. Robert Spring, Dr. Smith performed at the Music Educator's National Conference in 1994 and the 1992, 1995, 2002 and 2004 Clarinet Fest International Conferences. He served as principal percussionist with Ensemble 21, a contemporary music group under the direction of Arthur Weisberg, and as principal percussionist with The Daniel Lentz Group which performed at the Interlink Festival in Los Angeles, the Bang on a Can Festival in New York and the Festival Musica Visual in Lanzarote, Canary Islands. He has also recorded and performed with the internationally acclaimed Summit Brass and the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra. He has recorded for Koch, Summit, Centaur, Rhizome Sketch, Fontec, Leo, Canyon Records and Whole>Sum Productions. Dr. Smith is active as a composer, with numerous works published by C. Alan Publications. Andrew Campbell is Assistant Professor of Collaborative Piano and Chamber Music at Arizona State University. During the summer season, he directs the Collaborative Piano Program at the Brevard Music Center in North Carolina and serves as principal pianist for the BMC Festival Orchestra. He is a frequent member of the music staff and rehearsal pianist for the Washington National Opera, and previous positions include principal pianist for the San Diego Opera and Music Director and Pianist for the San Diego Opera Ensemble. He has performed in recital with such artists as violinist Chee-Yun, flutist Thomas Robertello, composer Bright Sheng, and tenor Anthony Dean Griffey, with whom he has also collaborated on several operatic productions. He has served as rehearsal pianist for such distinguished conductors as Andre Previn and Plecido Domingo, and has worked closely with the composer Carlisle Floyd on several productions of his operas. Chamber music performances have taken him to distinguished venues including Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, where The Strad and Strings magazines both hailed his performance as "excellent." His partnership with violinist Katie McLin in the McLin/Campbell Duo and McLin and clarinetist Robert Spring in Trio del Sol has led to performances on numerous recital series throughout the United States. As an orchestral pianist, he has performed with many ensembles including the Phoenix Symphony, the Columbus Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra, and the Brevard Music Center Festival Orchestra. Events Information Call 480-965-TUNE (480-965-8863) • 02006 A5U Herberger College of Fine Arts 070