Northwestern University Jazz Orchestra
The Music of Dexter Gordon
Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 7:30pm CDT
Galvin Recital Hall
Derrick Gardner, conductor; Kris Johnson, trumpet; Lulu Fall, vocals
Tenor saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Dexter Gordon was among the most influential of the early bebop musicians, with a studio and performance career spanning more than 40 years. He honed a distinctive sound characterized by its spacious feel and behind-the-beat improvisations, as well as his signature use of musical quotations from well-known melodies. The Northwestern University Jazz Orchestra shares a selection of Gordon’s groundbreaking compositions, welcoming special guests Kris Johnson and Lulu Fall.
View Live StreamTickets are $8 for the general public and $5 for students with valid ID.
Sold OutAbout the Artists
Trumpeter, composer, and educator Kris Johnson—the arranger of the Dexter Gordon selections on the evening's program—has toured with the Count Basie Orchestra and performed at the Apollo Theater, Blue Note Jazz Club, Sydney Opera House, Blues Alley, and the Hollywood Bowl. He has appeared with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Tony Bennett, Patti Austin, Christian McBride, and many more jazz greats.
Singer, songwriter, actor, and visual artist Lulu Fall was a finalist in the fourth annual Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Jazz Competition and a winner of the Mid-Atlantic Song Competition. She has appeared in the national tour and Broadway production of HAIR and performed in the 71st annual Tony Awards, among numerous other Broadway and off-Broadway credits. Her latest album, Transform, was released in September 2022.
Program
Dexter Gordon (arr. Kris Johnson), Fried Bananas
Dexter Gordon (arr. Kris Johnson), Tivoli
Dexter Gordon (arr. Kris Johnson), Hanky Panky
Dexter Gordon (arr. Kris Johnson), Second Balcony Jump
Dexter Gordon (arr. Kris Johnson), Cheese Cake
Dexter Gordon (arr. Kris Johnson), Boston Bernie (featuring Lulu Fall)
Thelonious Monk (arr. Kris Johnson), 'Round Midnight (featuring Lulu Fall)
Dexter Gordon (arr. Kris Johnson), Society Red
Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall
Address
70 Arts Circle Drive
Evanston, IL 60208
United States
About
Located in the Ryan Center for the Musical Arts, this 400-seat hall features a 40-foot glass wall offering views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. Undulating walls of Forest Stewardship Council–certified wood, covered with a thin layer of African moabi wood, provide optimal acoustics, and the hall is equipped with state-of-the-art sound and video equipment for recording.