No one was more shocked when the St. Olaf Jazz I big band won Downbeat magazine's "Top Undergraduate Large Ensemble" award than the group itself -- they didn't even know that their professor and leader, Dave Hagedorn, had entered them in the competition.
"We live-stream and record every concert," Hagedorn said. "It really works out well for parents who might be out of state and unable to get to shows. Then the performances get archived at the St. Olaf College website under 'Video On Demand.' So I just sent Downbeat three audio selections from our fall concert. The judges had no idea which bands they were hearing -- it was a blind audition -- and our group won. I'd been telling the band they were getting stronger every year."
Programming probably played a big part, Hagedorn said: "I sent in interesting pieces by Darcy James Argue, Kenny Wheeler and Clare Fischer -- nothing the judges had heard too often." Indeed, the programming of St. Olaf's jazz bands is really novel and far-reaching, as concertgoers can hear for themselves at two free shows this weekend at college in Northfield, Minn.
Both gigs feature a special guest: Swedish bassist and composer Bruno Raberg, a former New England Conservatory of Music buddy of Hagedorn's who's been living in the U.S. since 1981, and teaching at fabled Berklee College of Music since 1986.
Raberg has recorded six swell CDs as a leader, and appeared on 30-plus albums as a sideman, working with the cream of New York City, Boston, and European jazz talent. He'll be featured on three of his own charts, pieces by bass legends Charles Mingus and Charlie Haden, and a couple duets with old pal Hagedorn on vibes.
At Friday's 8:30 p.m. show, the award-winning St. Olaf Jazz I will tackle works of Billy Strayhorn, Gil Evans, Vince Mendoza, Buddy Rich, Count Basie, Fred Sturm and more. Sunday's 4:30 p.m. split showcase for the St. Olaf Jazz II and III bands ranges farther afield, with gems by big band legends Benny Carter, Duke Ellington and Woody Herman, boldly programmed alongside classic Afro-pop of Fela Kuti ("Voodoo"), and Cuban fireworks from the book of Mongo Santamaria. Exotic? You bet!
Both free shows are at The Pause in Buntrock Commons on the St. Olaf campus. You can see a video about the program here.
TOM SUROWICZ
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