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07/22/2013 12:00 AMWith its amazing mix of pros, local talent, and a stand-out guest artist, Shoreline Jazz Collective (SJC) returns for a fifth year to perform live on the Guilford green, Sun., July 28, 6 p.m.
“This year our guest artist is Mike Holober, a wonderful jazz pianist, composter and educator,” said organizer and SJC director James Antonnuci.
Antonnuci, a saxophone star during his years at Guilford High School, has gone on to play professionally and brings many of his peers back to town each year to perform in the live SJC show. The show runs about two hours and draws hundreds of jazz lovers, covering the green with picnic-blanket seating. SJC is sponsored annually by Guilford Parks and Recreation.
In addition to its pro line-up, SJC features two talented student/community groups, the SJC Community Big Band and the SJC College Prep Big Band. This year, the groups are made up from 70 players from 15 Connecticut towns, including Guilford. The local musicians were selected by audition in February and have been rehearsing weekly with Antonucci ever since. In June, guest artist Matt Wilson, a drummer, visited a rehearsal with both groups, bringing context to modern selections with his “off-beat” sense of humor, said Antonucci.
On July 28, SJC bands will perform songs from major periods of jazz, including the music of Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Latin Jazz great Tito Puente. The SJC show will also feature the SJC Big Band, a “pro band” playing with the night’s featured performer, Holober.
The 16-member pro band combines musicians from Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York City, playing under the direction of Antonucci. Many of the pros, including Antonucci, have been with SJC from the start. The pro band’s exciting July 28 program will bring Guilford the music of Thad Jones, Benny Carter and a new arrangement of Herbie Hancock’s “Eye of the Hurricane” by guest artist Holober.
“Because Mike is such a great and prolific writer, we are able to program more of our guest’s works than ever this year; two with students and several with the pro band. Several of Mike’s works will be premiered here in New England,” said Antonucci.
Pianist, composer-arranger, and educator Holober is Artistic Director/Conductor of Westchester Jazz Orchestra; Composer-in-Residence with The Gotham Wind Symphony and directs his own big band, The Gotham Jazz Orchestra. He has performed with (or had his works performed and recorded by) The HR Big Band in Frankfort, The WDR Big Band in Cologne, The Stockholm Jazz Orchestra, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, The Gotham Wind Symphony, Westchester Jazz Orchestra, The Airmen Of Note, The Army Blues, Prism Saxophone Quartet, John Patitucci, The Tim Ries Rolling Stones Project, Nick Brignola, Jason Rigby, Dave Pietro, Charles Pillow, and many others.
Holober holds the piano chairs in The Anita Brown Jazz Orchestra, The Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra, and The NewYorkestra. Holober is also an associate professor at The City College of NY and, in 2007, became associate music director of the BMI Jazz Composer’s workshop. He is a MacDowell Fellow, Ucross Foundation Fellow and Corporation of Yaddo Guest.
Noting SJC is now “five years strong,” in Guilford, Antonucci said he’s looking to expand SJC to a fall Jazz Combo program this year, focusing on improvisation. Although he may be the founder and driving force behind SJC, Antonucci said it’s the warm welcome SJC receives each year from town of Guilford, and in particular the support of Guilford Parks and Recreation, which allows the program to flourish.
“For five years now, I can’t thank Rick Maynard and the Guilford Park and Rec enough for their unwavering support. My wife Rachel and I have been able to audition, rehearse and plan the concert through blizzards, thunderstorms and our wedding two summers ago,” said Antonucci.
SJC performs Sun. July 28 on the Guilford Green, 6 p.m.; free event. Rain location: Guilford Community Center, 32 Church St.