ORANGE CITY, Iowa—The internationally acclaimed U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors of Washington, D.C., will continue its long history of presenting free public performances when it appears at Northwestern College’s Christ Chapel on Tuesday, Nov. 6, at 7:30 p.m.
The Jazz Ambassadors’ concert is sponsored by Northwestern College and the Orange City Arts Council. Free tickets may be obtained at Northwestern College’s DeWitt Music Hall, Orange City’s Town Hall, the Orange City Arts Council and the Dove Bookstore in Orange City. To receive tickets by mail, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your request to Nora Verburg, Northwestern College Music Department, 101 7th St. SW, Orange City, IA 51041.
As the premier touring big band for the Army, the Jazz Ambassadors travels thousands of miles each year throughout the nation and abroad. Since its formation in 1969, the ensemble has appeared in all 50 states and throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Members of the Jazz Ambassadors are selected by highly competitive audition and represent some of the finest musical talent in America.
The Jazz Ambassadors presents a diverse program of big band swing, Latin music, contemporary jazz, popular tunes, standards, Dixieland and patriotic selections. Conductor Marvin Hamlisch, during a joint concert with the National Symphony Orchestra, exclaimed, “I can’t think of better ambassadors for our country!”
The Washington-based ensemble will perform works by Duke Ellington and Quincy Jones, Ernie Wilkins’ “Basie Power,” “Interloper” by Thad Jones, Anthony Newly and Leslie Bricusse’s “Feeling Good,” a variety of selections portraying a visit to New Orleans, and a salute to U.S. armed forces, among others.
Master Sgt. Marva Lewis will be the featured vocalist on “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.” Originally a petroleum supply specialist during the Persian Gulf War, she was “discovered” while singing karaoke at a unit function in Korea. She was subsequently selected to perform at bases around the world with the Army Soldier Show and became a vocalist with the First Cavalry Division Band and the Jazz Knights of the U.S. Military Academy Band. She has been with the Jazz Ambassadors for 13 years.
The 19-member ensemble is conducted by Chief Warrant Officer William McCulloch, who enlisted in the Army in 1991 as a percussionist and was appointed a bandmaster in 2000.
Past performance highlights include the Montreux, North Sea and Newport Jazz Festivals; World War II 50th anniversary commemorations in the United States and Europe; and performances in India and Japan. After performing with the Cincinnati Pops at Carnegie Hall, the Cincinnati Enquirer wrote that “the musicianship was superb … The Jazz Ambassadors are polished and seamless virtuosos.”
