BY BRETT CAMPBELL
Mark O’Connor performs
at the Shedd on June 1.
Hot Jazz
O’Connor swings, UO ends year on high note.
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of the Earth’s greatest music traditions, and
this community is very lucky that the UO has
both a full set of these gorgeous instruments
(hand made of bronze, iron, brass, wood, and
bamboo, including xylophones, metallo-
phones, gongs, drums, and flutes) and, for the
past year, one of the finest teachers of game-
lan, Joko Purwanto, a Fulbright scholar in res-
idence who’ll direct the ensemble. This is a
valuable opportunity to get a taste of some of
the most beguiling music ever created.
The UO is also one of Oregon’s well-
springs of contemporary music. On Saturday,
May 31, the school’s computer music pro-
gram, Future Music Oregon, brings com-
poser Burton Beerman and dancer Celesta
Haraszti to Room 198 of the music school in a
concert featuring Body Synth, a device that
converts a dancer’s movements into music.
The program offers music by Beerman and
UO student composers, including a video
work by Elyzabeth Meade.
On Sunday, June 1, the school’s student-
run new music group, 100th Monkey
Ensemble, plays a famous jolt of protest
music, Frederic Rzewski’s “Attica,” two
haunting works by the great Japanese com-
poser Toru Takemitsu (“Rain Tree” and “Rain
Tree Sketches”), another intensely evocative
20th century masterpiece, “Music for a
Summer’s Evening” by George Crumb, and
other adventurous contemporary music. On
Monday, June 2, the Oregon Percussion
Ensemble presents a concert of music by
New York composer Meyer Kupferman, in-
cluding “Sound Phantoms No. 5 for
Percussion Orchestra,” featuring 130 percus-
sion instruments drawn from cultures around
the world; a solo marimba showcase;
“Prometheus” for chamber orchestra, featur-
ing Eugene Symphony percussionist Sean
Wagoner as guest timpani soloist; and more.
These OPE concerts are always some of the
most exciting, fun shows of the year, even for
listeners who don’t know percussion reper-
toire. And if your jazz cravings are still unsa-
tiated, on Friday, May 30, the UO Jazz
Café presents music of Wayne Shorter, Chick
Corea, Dave Douglas, and student works,
plus a jam session in the cabaret setting of the
music building’s Room 178.
ew
T
he music of the great French violinist
Stephane Grappelli and his partner,
guitar deity Django Reinhardt, was
called “Le Jazz Hot.” As the weather warms,
Eugene’s burgeoning jazz scene is heating up
as well. On June 1, one of the world’s great
fiddlers, Mark O’Connor brings his Hot
Swing Trio to the Shedd. Sort of a tribute to
Grappelli, one of his mentors, this high-pow-
ered threesome (including guitarist Frank
Vignola and bassist John Burr, who played
with Grappelli for a decade) shows O’Connor
in a folk-tinged swing setting that’s a depar-
ture from his well-known virtuoso bluegrass,
classical and studio work, yet at least as en-
gaging, and certainly blazing hot.
Thursday, June 12, one of the great jazz
bassists, David Friesen, brings his trio to
Luna. Featuring guitarist/composers Jerry
Hahn (who’s also a well-known teacher) and
Dan Balmer, this outstanding group brings
decades of high-level improvisatory explo-
ration together in surprisingly gentle, always
fluent combinations. This is a don’t miss for
jazz fans.
The end of the academic year is the culmi-
nation of music studies for students at one of
the finest music schools in the West, the UO,
and this spring’s lineup of concerts at Beall
Concert Hall is especially tasty. Here are
some highlights: On Tuesday, May 27, UO
student chamber ensembles play a ter-
rific program of mostly French — er, make
that “Freedom” — music, including one of
the most beautiful pieces of chamber music
— any music — ever written: Maurice
Ravel’s only string quartet. The concert also
contains another masterpiece of chamber
music, one of the three magnificent sonatas
Claude Debussy wrote at the end of his life,
this one for violin, and songs by Lili
Boulanger. The sister of history’s most fa-
mous music teacher, Lili was a precociously
promising composer who died at age 24, leav-
ing behind a small but lovely collection of
songs and other music. The attractive pro-
gram also includes music by Mozart,
Canteloube and contemporary composers.
On Wednesday, May 28 UO Javanese
Gamelan gives its inaugural concert. The
gamelan music of Indonesia is considered one
AND FAMILY
SATURDAY JUNE 14
Pink Martini
and
¡Cubanismo!
SATURDAY AUGUST 16
SATURDAY JULY 26
FULL SETS
BY BOTH
ARTISTS
AUGUST 19
DOOBIE BROTHERS
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 7
Advance tickets available at all ticketmaster outlets including ticketmaster.com, GI Joes, and charge by phone at 503.224.4400
Subject to Service and/or User Fee
Festival Seating • All Ages • Sand Chairs and blankets only (except 5/25
and 8/19 no chairs) • Free parking at Old Mill Shops and Mt. Bachelor lots
MAY 22, 2003 25