Jazz Articles

The Liberace Jazztet: On the Verge

by Jack Bowers
April 13, 2006

The Liberace Jazztet, based at Northern Illinois University, is so named because it was formed in 2001 as a result of a grant from the Liberace Foundation for the Performing and Creative Arts. The Jazztet is comprised of junior, senior and graduate students at the NIU School of Music who are designated “Liberace Scholars. When this album was recorded in December '02, the members of the group were trumpeter Danny Campbell, tenor saxophonist Doug Stone, guitarist Josh Suhrheinrich, bassist Alex ...

Northern Illinois University Jazz Ensemble: Swinging Every Which Way But Loose

by Jack Bowers
March 13, 2006

To show clearly where his sentiments lie, Ronald Carter, director of the renowned Northern Illinois University Jazz Ensemble, has included the word “swing (or “swinging ) in the title of each of the four albums the band has released since he took charge of the program nearly a decade ago. The latest, Swinging Every Which Way But Loose--which was actually recorded in 2002-03--easily upholds NIU's reputation as one of the outstanding college-level jazz ensembles on the planet, swinging every which ...

The Northern Illinois University Jazz Ensemble: We Came to Swing!

by Jack Bowers
July 25, 2003

This is the third album in a row by the Northern Illinois University Jazz Ensemble that includes the words “swing” or “swingin’” in its title. I’m beginning to suspect that director Ronald Carter and his apprentices are trying to tell us something.

In this case, the announcement is directed toward its audience, as We Came to Swing! was recorded during concerts two summers ago in Peoria and Sandwich, IL; Chesterfield, MO, and on the NIU campus in DeKalb. And it ...