The College of Wooster’s Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo concert to feature vocalist and pianist Alexis Cole

The College of Wooster’s Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo will perform their final concert of the academic year on Saturday, April 13, at 7:30 p.m., in Gault Recital Hall (525 E. University Street). The concert will feature vocalist and pianist Alexis Cole and highlight the four senior members of the ensemble.  

 Cole is a jazz vocalist and pianist, who performed nationally and released a dozen albums. She began her career in music as a jazz singer for the U.S. Army in the Army’s Big Band, where she remained until 2016, all while continuing to release albums. Following her service, Cole has performed at venues such as The Carlyle, Carnegie Hall, Birdland, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and the Blue Note. Cole also performed as a soloist with the Boston Pops and the Detroit Symphony. In 2020, Cole founded an education website that provides singing classes, professional development workshops, and vocal lessons with well-known jazz vocalists. Cole was also formerly a professor of jazz voice at SUNY (State University of New York) Purchase and William Paterson University.  

 Cole will be featured on “People Will Say We’re in Love” by Rodgers and Hammerstein, “Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars” by Antonio Carlos Jobim, “New York State of Mind” by Billy Joel, “Sway” by Pablo Beltran Ruiz, and “Social Call” by Gigi Gryce and Jon Hendricks. 

Under the direction of Jeffrey Lindberg and Greg Slawson, the ensemble will honor the four Jazz Ensemble graduating seniors, each featured on a selection performed by the ensemble. Dylan Garretson ‘24, bass trombonist, will be featured on “Wave” by Antonio Carlos Jobim. Conor Krucek ‘24, alto saxophonist, will be featured on “A Penthouse Dawn” by Oliver Nelson. Adam Romano ‘24, guitarist, will be featured on “Road Song” by Wes Montgomery. Garrett Morris ‘24, trombonist, will be featured on “Rose of the Rio Grande” by Lawrence Brown and “People Will Say We’re in Love” by Richard Rodgers. 

Lindberg has conducted the Wooster Jazz Ensemble since 1986. While at Wooster, Lindberg has drawn attention to lesser-known composers and exposed his students and community members to world-class soloists and compositions. Lindberg is also the co-founder and artistic director of the Chicago Jazz Orchestra, the director of the Wooster Symphony Orchestra, and teaches both jazz history and trombone at Wooster.   

Slawson is an adjunct music instructor at the College, teaching classes in jazz piano, jazz improvisation, and music technology and recording. He also edits recordings for the Department of Music and manages the recording crew. Slawson performs regularly as a freelance pianist and with various ensembles. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music and psychology from Wittenberg University and a Master of Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music.   

This concert is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Department of Music at 330-263-2419 or mpuster@wooster.edu 

Posted in News on April 5, 2024.