The Daily Mining Gazette - Published: Thursday, March 22, 2007 Print Article | Close Window Celebrating 40 years of jazz at MTU HOUGHTON — Some things you can count on — snow in March and the irrepressible energy and joy of Michigan Tech University’s award-winning jazz bands. Mike Irish, director of jazz studies, brings Tech’s bands to the Rozsa stage this weekend for a once-a-decade celebration — a 40th anniversary concert featuring the Jazz Lab Band and R&D Big Band, plus a special Alumni Jazz Lab Band and two guest soloists, Milwaukee jazz drummer Steve Zenz and trombonist Steve Wiest, former music director for Maynard Ferguson. Concert time is 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are available from the Rozsa Box Office (487-3200 and www.tickets.mtu.edu) and at the door for $10 general, $5 students. Generations of Tech students have played jazz under the leadership of Don Keranen (1967-1988), Rob Wernberg (1989-1991), and Mike Irish (1991-present), touring throughout Michigan, the Midwest, six times to Jamaica and winning awards at college jazz festivals. Since Michigan Tech doesn’t offer a major in music, all the musicians major in something else — engineering, science, forestry, business, etc. — but make jazz a center of their lives, often forming life-long friendships and continuing to play long after graduation. This week’s once-a-decade reunion concert brings back approximately 30 alums who still love to play, including pianist Kristin DuChateau, bassist Dan Komarzec, guitarists Pat Valencia and Pete Wessel, drummers Adam Johnson, Mark Lucier and Andy Wynn, trumpeters Alan Cross, Doug Jefferson and Rachel Burney and many others. “This will be a terrific concert,” Irish says, featuring jazz in many styles, from Cole Porter classics to the latest funk and blues sounds. The Jazz Lab Band will feature arrangements by Steve Wiest and by Jon VanRegenmorter, a graduating senior who has played sax and keyboards for four years at MTU. The R&D Band will range from Duke Ellington to Thad Jones’ “The Funk Stops Here.” Jeff Jarvis’ “No Time to Lose” and “Groovin’ with Bradley,” Doug Beach’s “Super Chief,” and other favorites will highlight the Alumni JLB set. After the concert, a jam session open to all will convene at the Ramada’s Upper Deck starting at about 10 p.m. Celebrated jazz trombonist, composer and clinician Steve Wiest started his professional career with Maynard Ferguson’s band and recently reunited with other Ferguson alumni for a concert and recording session at New York City’s fabled Blue Note. His latest recording for Arabeque Jazz is “Excalibur,” written and arranged by Wiest and recorded by an all-star big band. Drummer Steve Zenz is a first-call musician in the Milwaukee area and award-winning teacher who has played with many well-known bands through the years. Irish, who knows Zenz well, says, “Steve is amazing. He could find the groove at the bottom of Quincy Mine.” Irish will announce this year’s Don Keranen awards for outstanding jazz musician and most improved player during Saturday’s concert. More information about the anniversary weekend is available on the Department of Visual and Performing Arts’ website, www.fa.mtu.edu.