The SUNY Fredonia Curricular Jazz Ensembles will present the first of two concerts on Sunday, April 20 at 7 p.m. in Rosch Recital Hall on the SUNY Fredonia campus. The next jazz concert is Sunday, April 27 at 7 p.m. in Rosch Recital Hall. Both events are free and open to the public.
Under the direction of faculty member and renowned saxophonist Bruce Johnstone, a variety of small and large jazz ensembles will be featured on April 20 concert, including the SUNY Fredonia Big Band, the NSB Octet, the Meghan Koch Project and PEgan & the MagooGoo Dolls.
Repertoire spans the genre, with original compositions and arrangements by student and jazz pianist/vocalist Meghan Koch (arranging songs by Bonnie Raitt and Ray Charles); and standards such as Cole Porter’s “I Concentrate On You,” “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” and many others.
Professor Johnstone's reputation as a jazz musician started in his native New Zealand and catapulted him to Australia where he quickly attained fame and fortune in the Aussie market. Still looking for more, Bruce moved to England where he once again established himself solidly on the jazz scene and back in his career taking him throughout Europe.
Bruce never barged into a jam session. He would always wait to be asked and let his level of playing and kind reputation open doors. While in Copenhagen, Bruce performed regularly with Dexter Gordon, Ben Webster, and Niels Henning Orsted Peterson. The respect they had for each other lead to a bonding friendship.
Europe was fabulous to Bruce, but when he had a chance to see where jazz originated, well ... Maynard Ferguson hired Bruce solely on reputation and brought him to the states where Bruce also toured with Woody Herman.
"New York Mary," a group formed by Bruce, was one of the first jazz fusion bands on the scene. Producing two albums on Arista, both were rated pick of the month on "Billboard" and "Cash Box." One of Bruce's many recordings was with Anthony Braxton's "Creative Orchestra Music 1976," which received a 5* rating in Down Beat and extensive European play. M.F.'s "Live At Jimmy's" .... a legend!
Bruce's career has enabled him to play with more than too many greats to mention in every style, from Be-Bop to Avant Garde. His post-bop style earned him the #3 slot on Bari Sax in the international magazine Down Beat, which he subsequently held for 10 years.
Bruce currently holds the position of "Director of Curricular Jazz" at SUNY Fredonia.
