February 12 1999
Dan Gailey, associate professor and director of jazz studies, is director of the 19-piece jazz band. Owen will perform as guest composer and director and Dick Wright, KU's emeritus professor of music history, will be master of ceremonies.
The Jazz Ensemble I program will include Owen's "Along Came Benny," "The Gift Awaits," "Mo' Moleids," "A Quiet Longing," "Simon Says," and "Surge" as well as his arrangements of "But Beautiful" by Jimmy Van Heusen and "Running Late" by Ed Neumeister. Other works on the program include "Ballerina on the Plus Sign" by Gailey, "El Vito El Gran Tamaĝo" by Vince Mendoza, "Empty House" by Jim McNeely, and "Soft Lights, Sweet Music" by Irving Berlin, arranged by Michael Abene.
Owen, professor of jazz studies at the University of South Florida in Tampa, maintains an active profile as an educator and has increasingly been recognized for his compositions. He is a graduate of California State University-Northridge and the University of North Texas.
General admission tickets for the KU jazz concert are now on sale in the KU box offices: Lied Center, 864-ARTS; Murphy Hall, 864-3982, SUA Office 864-3477. Tickets are $5 for the public and $4 for all students and senior citizens. Both VISA and MasterCard are accepted for phone orders.