NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

3/25/2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES-Trumpet virtuoso Byron Stripling will appear with the NSU Jazz Orchestra as part of a Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial Celebration Friday, March 28 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. Galindo Rodriguez will conduct the orchestra.

Stripling is making a return engagement to NSU after a well-received performance last year. He has ignited audiences internationally as a soloist with the Boston Pops Orchestra and the New York Pops. Stripling has become a pops orchestra favorite throughout the country also performing with the Cincinnati Pops, Seattle Symphony and other orchestras. Stripling has been a featured soloist at the Hollywood Bowl and performs at jazz festivals throughout the world.

An accomplished actor and singer, Stripling was chosen to star in the Broadway bound musical, "Satchmo." He had a featured cameo performance in the television movie, "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles," as well as a critically-acclaimed performance in the 42nd Street production of "From Second Avenue to Broadway."

Rodriguez put the concert together at the suggestion of Bill Brent, director of the Mrs. H.D. Dear Sr. and Alice Estelle Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts, who wanted to highlight the state's contribution to the arts.

"The one contribution that Louisiana has made to the arts that stands out is jazz," said Rodriguez. "And the one figure that stood out is Louis Armstrong, who was born and grew up in New Orleans. Byron Stripling was my first choice because he had done 'Satchmo."'

Stripling was lead trumpeter and soloist with the Count Basie Orchestra, under the direction of Thad Jones and Frank Foster. He has also played and recorded extensively with the bands of Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Herman, Lionel Hampton, Clark Terry, Louis Bellson and Buck Clayton, in addition to The Lincoln Center Classical Jazz Orchestra, The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band and The GRP All Star Big Band. He serves as artistic director of the Columbus Jazz Orchestra and conducts seminars and master classes at colleges, universities, conservatories, and high schools where he is a favorite guest speaker to groups of all ages.

"Byron is such a fine entertainer. He also works well with our students," said Rodriguez. "He gets them to play with feeling and takes it beyond just playing the notes. I learn a great deal from playing with him as well."

Stripling will perform works selected from among the following: "On the Sunny Side of the Street," "Hello Dolly," "I'm Confessin'" "Dinah," "Tiger Rag," "When the Saints Go Marchin' In" and his own composition "Tired of Pretty Women," which was arranged by David Springfield.

The Jazz Orchestra will perform "Time for a Change" by Hank Levy, "Lester Jumps Out" by Bob Mintzer and "Count Bubba" by Gordon Goodwin. They will also present "North Shore Morning" by Matt Harris, "Cruisin' for a Bluesin'" by Andy Weiner and arranged by Peter Blair and "Shiny Stockings" by Frank Foster.

"Our band is the most mature I have had in terms of playing," said Rodriguez. "They play a wide variety of music and play it well. Every section is featured."

Rodriguez singled out assistant director Randel Babin, who plays lead trumpet, as someone "who holds the band together."

The concert will also feature an introduction by associate professor of music Tony Smith.

Underwriters for the concert include the Shreveport Regional Arts Council, Natchitoches Arts Council, Natchitoches Main Street Program, The Bandhouse of Shreveport, the Mrs. H.D. Dear and Alice Estelle Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts and the NSU Student Activities Board.

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