UCLA Dept. of Ethnomusicology offers concert series

The UCLA Department of Ethnomusicology offers a series of events for the public's enjoyment throughout the year. Programs include performances of high artistic accomplishment in various genres directed by faculty of national and international renown.

For updated information and confirmation of events, the public may call 310-206-3033 or visit www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu.

Parking for events at UCLA's Schoenberg Music Building is available for $9 in Lot 2 (enter at Hilgard and Westholme Avenues).

For events at the UCLA Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., parking is available in the museum's underground lot.

DUKE ELLINGTON'S 110th BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL OF MUSIC
April 4–5
In celebration of the 110th anniversary of the birth of composer, pianist and bandleader Duke Ellington, one of the most influential figures in jazz and American music, the UCLA Department of Ethnomusicology will present a series of free concerts at Schoenberg Hall. For more information, visit www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu or www.friendsofjazz.ucla.edu.

Saturday, April 4
2–5 p.m.
UCLA Jazz Student Combos
Schoenberg Hall
Free
The combos will play Ellingtonia, directed by Kenny Burrell, George Bohanon, Clayton Cameron, Charles Owens, Michele Weir and Charley Harrison.

Saturday, April 4
7 p.m.
UCLA Philharmonia Orchestra, Neal Stulberg, conductor
Schoenberg Hall
Free
The Philharmonia Orchestra will perform specially selected extended works by Ellington, with special guest, renowned vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater. Jens Lindemann, trumpeter and director of a new student brass ensemble, will play Ellington compositions. Ellington's "Music for String Quartet," arranged by Paul Chihara, will be featured. Solo guest artists: pianist Tom Ranier, vocalist Bill Henderson, percussionist Clayton Cameron and guitarist and UCLA Jazz Studies director Kenny Burrell.

Sunday, April 5
1–3:30 p.m.
"Queenie Pie" and "Sacred Music Concert" (excerpts)
Schoenberg Hall
Free
The program will include the Southern California premiere of Ellington's folk opera "Queenie Pie" (excerpts), conducted by Marc Bolin and featuring some of UCLA's finest vocalists and instrumentalists, as well as excerpts from Ellington's "Sacred Music Concert," conducted by Charles Owens and featuring Dwight Trible and Chester Whitmore, with Kalil Wilson, Lauren Michelle and Joseph Buchanan.

Sunday, April 5
7 p.m.
UCLA Jazz Ensembles
Schoenberg Hall
Free
The program will feature the UCLA Jazz Orchestra, directed by Charley Harrison; the UCLA Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, directed by Kenny Burrell and James Newton; and the UCLA Latin Jazz Ensemble, directed by Bobby Rodriguez. UCLA jazz faculty soloists: Kenny Burrell, James Newton, Charles Owens, Barbara Morrison, Clayton Cameron, Roberto Miranda and others. Special guests: Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ernie Andrews, Dwight Trible, Herb Jeffries, Chester Whitmore and Gerald Wilson.

SPRING FESTIVAL OF WORLD MUSIC WITH THE HAMMER MUSEUM
April 11 and 25
The Spring Festival of World Music, presented jointly by the UCLA Department of Ethnomusicology and the UCLA Hammer Museum, will feature performances by students and faculty in the Hammer Museum courtyard. This lively series is free and open to the public.

Saturday, April 11
2 p.m.
Phil Wright Trio
UCLA Hammer Museum courtyard
Free
The Phil Wright Trio, led by Wright on piano, will provide a musical history of the blues. Wright has been the piano assistant for the past three years to UCLA jazz vocal instructor Barbara Morrison.

Saturday, April 11
3:30 p.m.
Barbara Morrison, jazz and blues vocalist
UCLA Hammer Museum courtyard
Free
UCLA jazz vocal instructor Barbara Morrison, joined by students and other special guests, shares her rich and unique interpretations of familiar blues classics and original contemporary tunes. The singers will be accompanied by the Phil Wright Trio.

Saturday, April 25
2 p.m.
Music of Brazil Ensemble, Kirk Brundage, director
UCLA Hammer Museum courtyard
Free
The Music of Brazil Ensemble, under the direction of Kirk Bundrage, features Afro-Brazilian percussion commonly found throughout Brazil's major cities. The ensemble's repertoire incorporates the various styles, including samba batucada, in the tradition of Rio de Janiero's samba schools; samba reggae and samba afro from the blocos-afros of Salvador da Bahia; and the maracatu of Recife, Pernambuco, among others.

Saturday, April 25
3:30 p.m.
Music of China Ensemble, Li Chi, director
UCLA Hammer Museum courtyard
Free
The Music of China Ensemble, under the direction of Li Chi, will perform traditional Jiangnan "silk and bamboo" music and an aria from the Kun opera. Jiangnan silk and bamboo music was developed in the Shanghai region and features the erhu as the "silk" stringed instrument and the dizi as its "bamboo" flute. Chinese Kun Opera was established during the 16th century and is known for the scholarly elegance of all aspects of its delivery and performance.

SPRING FESTIVAL OF WORLD MUSIC AND JAZZ 2009
May 16–17 May 28–June 2
The 2009 Spring Festival of World Music and Jazz will feature Schoenberg Hall performances by UCLA's wide array of world music performance ensembles, plus UCLA jazz combos, the UCLA Jazz Orchestra, the UCLA Latin Jazz Ensemble and the UCLA Contemporary Jazz Ensemble.

Saturday, May 16
7 p.m.
Music of India Ensemble, Shujaat Khan and Abhiman Kaushal, co-directors Music of Bali Ensemble, I Nyoman Wenten, director
Schoenberg Hall
Free
The Music of India Ensemble, under the direction of Shujaat Khan and Abhiman Kaushal, performs short compositions of North Indian classical and semi-classical ragas (harmonic modes) and talas (rhythmic patterns on tabla, or drums). The ensemble comprises the students of Shujaat Husain Khan on vocals and sitar (a long-necked lute with seven principal strings, plus 12 to 20 sympathetic strings) and the students of Abhiman Kaushal on tabla. The Music of Bali Ensemble, under the direction of I Nyoman Wenten, features gamelan music (the generic Indonesian word for orchestra) and dance. The Balinese gamelan gong kebyar is famous for its fast tempos, abrupt changes of texture and brilliantly costumed dancers who act out stories from the Hindu Ramayana.

Sunday, May 17
7 p.m.
African American Music Ensemble, James Roberson, director Afro-Cuban Music Ensemble, Francisco Aguabella, director
Schoenberg Hall
Free
The African American Music Ensemble, under the direction of James Roberson, performs a diverse mix of gospel music, including Negro spirituals and traditional and contemporary gospel. Beginning in the 1600s with enslaved Africans, African American choral music has evolved into a refined urban form accompanied by piano, drum, bass and tambourine. The Afro-Cuban Music Ensemble, under the direction of Francisco Aguabella, performs ceremonial songs in honor of the saints of Santería, an Afro-Cuban religion, as well as social music, such as rumba and comparsa. Their performances, accompanied by bata drums and congas, are based on traditions originally from Matanzas, the area of Cuba that retains the richest African cultural elements.

Thursday, May 28
7 p.m.
Music of West Africa Ensemble, Kobla Ladzekpo, director Music of Mexico Ensemble, Jesús Guzmán, director
Schoenberg Hall
Free
The Music of West Africa Ensemble, under the direction of Kobla Ladzekpo, performs the music and dances of the Ewe people of Ghana and Togo, the Fon of Benin, and the Ashanti of Ghana. The ensemble produces complex polyphonic textures on a variety of drums, bells and rattles to accompany dramatic and entertaining social dances. The Music of Mexico Ensemble, under the direction of Jesús Guzmán, a 2009 Grammy winner, features mariachi music in a variety of styles from various regions of Mexico, including son jalisiense, son huasteco, bolero, ranchera and huapango.

Friday, May 29
7 p.m.
Music of Korea Ensemble, DongSuk Kim, director
Schoenberg Hall
Free
The Music of Korea Ensemble, under the direction of DongSuk Kim, presents a variety of styles of court and folk music and dance traditions.

Saturday, May 30
7 p.m.
Music of Brazil Ensemble, Kirk Brundage, director Music of the Balkans Ensemble, Tzvetanka Varimezova and Ivan Varimezov, co-directors
Schoenberg Hall
Free
The Music of Brazil Ensemble, under the direction of Kirk Brundage, features Afro-Brazilian percussion commonly found throughout Brazil's major cities. The ensemble's repertoire incorporates various styles, including samba batucada, in the tradition of Río de Janeiro's samba schools; samba reggae and samba afro from the blocos-afros of Salvador da Bahía; and the maracatu of Recife, Pernambuco, among others. The Music of the Balkans Ensemble, under the direction of Tzvetanka Varimezova and Ivan Varimezov, focuses on Bulgarian traditional songs and music. The ensemble also includes a women's choir that performs a capella arrangements of folk songs in two- and three-part harmony.

Sunday, May 31
7 p.m.
Music of China Ensemble, Li Chi, director Bluegrass and Old Time String Band Ensemble, Anthony Seeger, director
Schoenberg Hall
Free
The Music of China Ensemble, under the direction of Li Chi, performs arias from Kun opera of the 16th century, "silk-and-bamboo" wind and string music from the Shanghai area, folk dances for festive celebration, zheng zither music in the Keijia style from Canton Province, music for large percussion ensembles and modern compositions for traditional Chinese wind and string ensembles. The Bluegrass and Old Time String Band Ensemble, under the direction of Anthony Seeger, performs traditional music of America, with a focus on instrumental music of the American South.

Monday, June 1
7 p.m.
UCLA Jazz Combos
Schoenberg Hall
Free
Performances feature UCLA jazz combos directed by Kenny Burrell, George Bohanon, Clayton Cameron, Charles Owens, Michele Weir and Charley Harrison.

Tuesday, June 2
7 p.m.
UCLA Big Band Jazz Concert
Schoenberg Hall
Free
Performances feature the UCLA Jazz Orchestra, directed by Charley Harrison; the UCLA Latin Jazz Ensemble, directed by Bobby Rodriguez; and the UCLA Contemporary Jazz Ensemble, directed by Kenny Burrell and James Newton.