Anniversaries collide…in the best way possible! When the 26-member Smith College Jazz Ensemble (25 years young) and the 19-piece Compaq Big Band (50 years young) join forces to present the ‘Big Band Anniversary Bash’ on Wednesday April 2nd. This is a *FREE* event, open to all, on the beautiful campus of Smith College (150 years young) in Northampton, MA. The CBB is *PSYCHED* to take a mid-week ‘road trip’ to the Pioneer Valley to collaborate with the SCJE – several of us are UMass Amherst alums, Genevieve Rose who directs the SCJE is a longtime CBB favorite sub on bass, plus many CBB regulars and subs have ties to the very hip Western Massachusetts jazz community. FYI, this will be our THIRD consecutive ‘No Cover’ gig in just 9 days!
The venue is the gorgeous 600-seat+ Sweeney Concert Hall, located within Sage Hall at 144 Green Street. General Admission seating. Doors Open 7:00pm – bands play 7:30pm-9:30pm.
Metered parking is available along Green Street - pay until 8:00pm. Free parking is available in the Belmont Avenue Parking Lot (on Google Maps) after 5:00pm – just a 2-minute walk.
Establishments for terrific sustenance and libation both before the event abound in downtown Northampton, within a mile from the venue.
Membership in the Smith College Jazz Ensemble is open to students enrolled at any of the Five College institutions (Smith College, UMass-Amherst, Amherst College, Mount Holyoke College, and Hampshire College), and select community members. This 26-member group rehearses once a week, and presents both on- and off-campus concerts every semester. Their April 2nd program will include jazz standards, rock & roll, and more!
Fronting the Compaq Big Band that evening will be Smith College and SCJE alum Bella Holtz, enjoying a second long-term stint with the Compaq Big Band, channelin’ Diane Schuur, Ella Fitzgerald, Natalie Cole, and more. We’ll also be hittin’ the audience with some of our best instrumental arrangements, too. Think Sammy Nestico, Frank Foster, Chris Walden, Billy Strayhorn… Bella Holtz has deep New England jazz roots, including vocal studies at the Vermont Jazz Center with the likes of Sheila Jordan, Jay Clayton, and Peter Eldridge, and stage time with Samirah Evans, Charles Neville, and Houston Person. After performing extensively with the Compaq Big Band from 2011 to 2014 as our feature vocalist, Bella moved to Oakland, California for several years, where appearances with both San Franciso’s SFJAZZ Monday Night Band (full big band) and Sidenote acapella octet awaited. Fortunately for us, Bella’s been back from the West Coast for a few years now, joining our phenomenal rotation of ultra-talented New England- and New York City-based jazz vocalists, along with appearing regularly with the Keene (New Hampshire) Jazz Orchestra.
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