Top jazz acts to 'sandwich' Fling weekend

In an effort to promote jazz in the entertainment options available to students, SPEC Jazz -- the branch of the Social Planning and Events Committee dedicated to bringing jazz into campus life -- has signed two prominent jazz musicians to perform at Penn next month. The John Scofield Band and saxophone great Joshua Redman are scheduled to perform just days before and after Spring Fling weekend, respectively, accentuating a week that will also be highlighted by scheduled Fling artists the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Run DMC. "I didn't want Fling weekend to pass without a jazz show, as well as the Fling concert," College senior and SPEC Jazz Director Michael Turi said. With Scofield playing the Annenberg Center's Zellerbach Auditorium on the evening of Tuesday, April 13, and Redman performing in the same venue on Sunday, April 18, Turi happily remarked, "I'd like to consider Fling sandwiched by jazz." Scofield's performance is just one of several stops on a tour promoting his latest release and second Verve recording called A Go Go. As a trailblazer of 1980s fusion, band leader and master improvisor, Scofield has been a major player on the jazz scene during the past decade. Currently joined by longtime Maceo Parker ensemble members Will Boler on the organ and keyboards and Marlon Brodin and Matt Garrison on bass and drums, Scofield has previously worked with jazz greats such as Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Pat Metheny and Herbie Hancock, who recently performed for a sold-out crowd at the Zellerbach. Turi noted, however, that the Scofield genre of music is of a different, more modern variety than Hancock's more classic jazz. Redman -- who will be joined by Brian Blade on drums, Larry Grenadier on bass and Brad Mehldau on piano -- is expected to perform songs from his sixth and newest release, Timeless Tales [for Changing Times]. On the album, the composer and saxophonist chose to interpret the works of significant 20th century songwriters including Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin and George and Ira Gershwin, along with surprises from more modern artists. "This album is about collapsing what I think are artificial barriers between different types of music, between Gershwin and the Beatles, between Irving Berlin and Stevie Wonder," Redman said. SPEC Jazz Director-elect Damon Cawley was excited about the broad range of styles encompassed by the seasoned Scofield and rising Redman. "You get the spectrum of jazz from old to new in the two shows," the College junior said. Scofield performance tickets will be available starting today at noon on Locust Walk and are also available through the Annenberg box office. Tickets will be sold as general reserved seating and may be purchased for $8 with Penn student ID, and $12 without ID. Tickets for the Redman performance are also available through the box office -- at $10, $15 or $20 for students with Penn ID and otherwise $20, $25 or $30, depending on seat location.

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