The AV¶¶Ňő Jazz Band and Jazz Catz will perform in concert
Nov. 19 as part of the AV¶¶Ňő Season of Entertainment 33.
The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Arkansas Best Performing Arts Center at the Fort Smith Convention Center, 55 S. 7th St. Admission is by Season 33 ticket, or individual tickets are $8.
Directing the Jazz Band is Dr. Matt Vangjel of Fort Smith, AV¶¶Ňő assistant professor of music (high brass). Don Bailey of Fort Smith, AV¶¶Ňő director of jazz studies, directs the Jazz Catz vocal ensemble.
According to Vangjel, the Jazz Band is “mixing things up a bit” this semester by performing some new arrangements of old standards.
“It is important to pay homage to the great jazz musicians throughout history, and we are certainly honoring the big band genre,” he said.
Selections by the Jazz Band include favorites like “Mack the Knife,” “The Girl From Ipanema,” “Mood Indigo,” “Cousin Mary” and “St. Louis Blues.”
“With selections from W.C. Handy to Freddie Hubbard to Antonio Carlos Jobim, there will be something for everyone at this concert,” he added.
Bailey said the Jazz Catz will sing selections that span more than 80 years of recorded music, in styles made famous by artists like Duke Ellington, Michael Buble, Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer, Icelandic composer Bjork, English pop-rock composer Imogen Heap, Brazilian guitarist Luiz Bonfa, The Boswell Sisters and Billy Joel.
“The Jazz Catz and Jazz Band always give an exciting performance when they share the stage,” said Bailey. “They have built a tradition of providing high-quality shows that are always entertaining and filled with a lot of variety, great solo work and high-voltage jazz arrangements.”
Vocal selections to be performed by the Catz include “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing),” the 1918 hit song “After You’ve Gone,” “I’ve Never Been in Love Before” from Broadway’s Guys and Dolls, Buble’s “It Had Better Be Tonight,” the Brazilian street dance tune “Lua Soberana” and “Aha!” composed by Heap.
“The jazz concerts generally sell out early,” Bailey added, “so everyone should get their tickets before it’s too late.”
Students who will perform are:
Alma: Brent Rowland, Kyle Scott and Jensen Smith, Jazz Band; Jordan Duff, Micheal Phan and Elyse Stogner, Jazz Catz.
Booneville: Kyle Jones, Jazz Catz.
Conway: Mykala Parker, Jazz Band.
Fort Smith: Spencer Barker, Ben Hines, Joseph Jarvis, D.J. McRoberts and Larry Nguyen, Jazz Band; Elizabeth Carter and Abby Hobbs, Jazz Catz.
Greenwood: Luke Alexander, Jered May and Andrew Morgan, Jazz Band.
Hot Springs: Corby Smith, Jazz Catz.
Jacksonville: Andrew Jeffers, Jazz Catz.
Mena: Amber Lane, Jazz Catz.
Mulberry: Virginia Jones, Jazz Band.
Muldrow, Okla.: Zach Brown and Austin Calvillo, Jazz Band.
Pocola, Okla.: Laken Emerson, Jazz Band.
Roland, Okla.: Courtney Hicks, Jazz Catz.
Van Buren: Caleb Capps, Jazz Band; Phil Furney and Kalyn Tounzen, Jazz Catz.
The University’s Season of Entertainment series packages national touring shows with AV¶¶Ňő concerts and productions by theatre and music students each year.
Tickets are available online at or by calling the AV¶¶Ňő Box Office at 479-788-7300.
For more information on the jazz concert, contact Bailey at 479-788-7554 or Vangjel at 479-788-7538.