UCLA Jazz Combos and Ensembles Concert 2
Tonight’s concert will feature the following groups:
Jazz Combo directed by Michele Weir
Jazz Combo directed by Charley Harrison
Jazz Combo directed by Jesús “Chuy” Guzmán
UCLA Jazz Orchestra directed by Charley Harrison
Performers
Michele Weir
See BioJazz Vocals; Director, Jazz Combo
Over a life-long career in music, Michele Weir has touched the lives of students around the globe and significantly influenced the growth and development of jazz education. Through her many creative vocal group and instrumental arrangements, and her talents as a pianist and singer, Weir is widely distinguished for her versatile skill set and ability to inspire. As one student put it, “Thank you again for being such an amazing mentor. You are truly the person I strive to be.”
Weir’s arrangements are performed by renowned vocal groups including The Manhattan Transfer, New York Voices, The Swingle Singers, M-Pact, Beachfront Property, Chanticleer, Voice Trek, and her orchestral works played by various symphonies including the Boston Pops. Her educational arrangements are distributed by leading publishers including Hal Leonard, Alfred Publishing, Shawnee Press, SMP Jazz as well as her own online company, MichMusic. As vocal producer for the Manhattan Transfer’s 2009 CD release, The Chick Corea Songbook, Michele worked closely with the Transfer and contributed two arrangements to the project. Other arrangements or compositions have been featured on the Shari Lewis TV show, Disney’s 101 Dalmations Sing-along CD, and the Holland America Cruise line.
Currently on faculty at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Weir taught previously at USC, CSU Long Beach, and the Phil Mattson School. As a highly sought-after teacher and clinician, Michele has been invited to teach in twenty-three countries to date and has delivered presentations for some of the world’s most prestigious music conferences including the World Choral Symposium, the IAJE and JEN Conferences, and the ACDA National Conference. Her educational book/CD sets, Vocal Improvisation (Advance Music), Jazz Singer’s Handbook (Alfred Publishing), and Jazz Piano Handbook (Alfred Publishing) are available internationally.
Charley Harrison
See BioDirector, UCLA Jazz Orchestra; Director, Jazz Combo
Charley Harrison, composer, arranger, orchestrator, conductor, and guitarist, has been the Director of the UCLA Jazz Orchestra since 2004. He also became the Inaugural Conductor and Artistic Director of the Hollywood Jazz Orchestra in 2023.
His compositions and arrangements have been performed by some of the biggest names in jazz including: Kenny Burrell, Clark Terry, Marcus Miller, Freddy Cole, Kurt Elling, Cedar Walton, Joe Williams, The Count Basie Orchestra, and The Audio Network. Harrison’s 2006 CD, Keeping My Composure, received critical acclaim, and appeared on the JazzWeek radio charts for 13 consecutive weeks. Charley has previously served as conductor of the Los Angeles Jazz Orchestra, as well as Associated Artistic Director of the Chicago Jazz Orchestra.
Prior to joining the UCLA Faculty, Harrison worked as a composer and orchestrator on several film projects after spending 10 years working as a composer/producer in Chicago’s advertising community, where he created music for such clients as McDonald’s and The Chicago White Sox.
Jesús "Chuy" Guzmán
See BioContinuing Lecturer, Department of Ethnomusicology & Global Jazz Studies
Faculty Director, Music of Mexico & Mariachi de Uclatlán, The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music
Director, Mariachi los Camperos
Jesús “Chuy” Guzmán is widely recognized as arranger, director, instructor, and musician in the genre of Mexican mariachi music.
Guzmán is the musical director of Mariachi Los Camperos De Nati Cano, and master of numerous traditional mariachi instruments: trumpet, vihuela, guitarron, guitar, and violin.
For over nearly 20 years, Guzmán has served as head instructor for numerous international mariachi festivals in the United States and Mexico. Career highlights include collaboration on the orchestration and musical arrangements for the Symphony Orchestra of Jalisco and recording as a guest artist with Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan.
Mr. Guzmán also toured and recorded with Linda Ronstadt on her Grammy Award-winning album, Canciones de Mi Padre (Songs of My Father) and has appeared in several Hollywood motion pictures. Mr. Guzmán’s production for Mariachi Los Camperos titled Llegaron Los Camperos was nominated in 2006 for a Grammy Award under the Mexican-American category.
Most recently, his production for Mariachi Los Camperos, Amor, Dolor, y Lagrimas was awarded a Grammy for 2008 Best Regional Mexican Album. Guzmán has been a faculty member in the UCLA Department of Ethnomusicology since 2000.
Program Notes
Jazz Combo directed by Michele Weir
Program:
1. Say, Little Mama, Say – Comp. Tex Allen
2. James – Comp. Pat Metheny
3. Nature Boy – Comp. Eden Ahbez
4. Love Wins – Comp. Bill Cantos
Musicians:
Robert Gomez – Tenor Sax
Christian Rodriguez – Guitar
Grant Grech – Guitar
Julie Zhu – Vocal
Courtney Blue – Vocal
Andrew Doerr – Piano
Addison Chandler – Bass
Daniel Wellerstein – Drums
Jazz Combo directed by Charley Harrison
Program:
1. Tom Thumb – Comp. Wayne Shorter
2. Body and Soul – Comp. Johnny Green
3. 500 Miles High – Comp. Chick Corea
Musicians:
Haley Benedict – Flute
Sam Wolf – Tenor Saxophone
Stellan Swanlund – Piano
Nathan Puopolo – Bass
Ezra Hapner – Drums
Jazz Combo directed by Jesús Guzmán
Program:
1. “Cuando vuelva a tu lado,” 1934; by María Grever (1885-1951)
Born in León, Guanajuato, México, Grever was a pioneering Mexican composer who received acclaim and international recognition for many works that went on to be covered by some of the biggest performers of their time. You might know Grever’s popular song “What A Difference A Day Makes,” translated from its original Spanish version “Cuando vuelva a tu lado,” which went on to win a GRAMMY award in 1959 as sung by jazz legend Dinah Washington.
2. “Somos novios,” 1968, by Armando Manzanero (1935-2020)
Born in Ticul, Yucatán, México, the late Manzanero was a Mexican Mayan musician, singer, composer, actor and music producer widely considered the premier Mexican romantic composer of the postwar era and one of the most successful composers of Latin America.
3. “Recordando a Lara,” by Agustín Lara (1900-1970); Medley arrangement by Jesús “Chuy” Guzmán
Born in Tlacotalpan, Veracruz, Agustín Lara was known as “el músico poeta” and “el flaco de oro.” His fame would lead him to Cine de Oro roles and work alongside Pedro Vargas. He later would be a Founding Partner of the Recording Academy-like in Mexico, la Sociedad de Autores y Compositores de México, and was named its Presidente Honorario Vitalicio (Honorary Life President).
Musicians:
Bobby Alvarez – Violín
Jesús Guzmán – Violín
Angel Ramirez – Guitarrón
Tyler Kuan – Piano
Sylvia Rutkowski – Trompeta
UCLA Jazz Orchestra directed by Charley Harrison
Program:
- You Can See – Comp. Monty Alexander, Arr. Jimmy Heath
- Just Friends – Comp. John Klenner, Arr. Rob McConnell
- Dolphin Dance – Comp. Herbie Hancock, Arr. Bob Mintzer
- Sister Sadie – Comp. Horace Silver, Arr. Mike Pendowski
- Peace – Comp. Horace Silver, Arr. Mike Pendowski
- A Night in Tunisia – Comp. Dizzy Gillespie, Arr. Sammy Nestico
- Daahoud – Comp. Clifford Brown, Arr. Tom Garling
Musicians:
Harry Brandt – Alto Saxophone
Nathan Palmer – Alto Saxophone
Eli Silverman – Tenor Saxophone
Gael Saldana – Tenor Saxophone
Adam Zilberman – Baritone Saxophone
Garrett Ferrell – Trumpet
Ethan Alvarado – Trumpet
David Marsh – Trumpet
Kenneth Brown – Trumpet
Sam Black – Trombone
Ryan Heisinger – Trombone
Elek Fenyes – Trombone
Ruby Lim-Moreno – Bass Trombone
Stellan Swanlund – Piano
Nathan Puopolo – Bass
Nathaniel Miles-Urdan – Drums