Rufus Reid in Stamford, CT

[mjzee]

Jazz great Rufus Reid to

perform at Rich Forum

(from The Stamford Times, 3/18/07)

- On Monday, March 19, the University of

Connecticut School of Fine Arts will pres-

ent the premiere of "Quiet Pride," a new

work by jazz great Rufus Reid, the 2006

winner of the annual Raymond and Beverly

Sackler Music Composition Prize.

The original composition will be per-

formed by the University of Connecticut

Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Jazz

Studies Director Earl MacDonald at 7 p.m.

at the Rich Forum in Stamford. Admission

is free.

Sponsored by the University of

Connecticut School of Fine Arts, the

Sackler Music Composition Prize supports

and promotes aspiring composers and the

performance of their new musical works.

Each year, the competition focuses on a dif-

ferent genre of music. This year, the com-

position competition was in the area of jazz.

One of today's premiere bassists on the

international jazz scene, Reid has firmly

established his reputation in the education

arena and now adds composition to his

vitae. The 2006 Sackler Music Composition

Prize allowed him to fulfill a dream he had

to compose a work dedicated to the artist

Elizabeth Catlett. Her life and work

inspired in Reid a desire to honor her and to

introduce her to people who might not

know about her work. Entitled "Quiet

Pride," this four-movement work for Jazz

Big Band was inspired by four of her sculp-

tures.

"I am delighted that the world renown

jazz artist, Rufus Reid, won the competition

this year and will be in Stamford to perform

his winning composition," said David G.

Woods, dean of the school of fine arts. "The

Rufus Reid concert will be one of the finest

in the competition's history."

The competition received 75 entries

from composers across the United States as

well as from Austria, Canada, Chile,

Germany, Portugal and the United

Kingdom.

Finalists for the 2006 prize were com-

posers Vince Mendoza, Ed Neumeister and

John Hollenbeck. Past winners include

Gabriela Frank, Karim AI-Zand, Orianna

Webb and Stacy Garrop.

The prize was established five years ago

through a generous gift given by Raymond

and Beverly Sackler, philanthropists and

frequent University of Connecticut donors,

and it remains the largest cash composition

prize administered by a public university.

For additional information call 325-4466

or visit www.stamfordcenterforthearts.org.

[Chuck Nessa]

Did he take the gig so he could swing by Mosaic and pick up some sides?

[sidewinder]

Did he take the gig so he could swing by Mosaic and pick up some sides?

My first thought too !

[bertrand]

I believe he's doing a concert with Mark Masters tonight.

Bertrand.