Diane Moser’s Composers Big Band Presents:
Diane Moser’s Composers Big Band shines a spotlight on the music of veteran jazz musician Ed Xiques at a free concert honoring the saxophonist/composer/arranger/A Tribute to Ed Xiques Celebrated Jazz Saxophonist/Composer/Educator Ed Xiques to be honored on June 3 at The Falcon in Marlboro, NY Free concert focuses on original compositions by Hudson Valley resident Ed Xiques Xiques, a mainstay of the New York jazz scene for several decades, is known for his playing with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, McCoy Tyner, Maria Schneider, Frank Foster and a host of others. According to Composers Big Band leader Diane Moser, “Performing at The Falcon will give us the chance to share with his friends and family all of the wonderful music Ed Xiques has been writing over the last 20 years. He’s such a gracious, funny, generous and spiritual guy. We love his stories and his wonderful spirit.” Moser continues, “For our June 3 date at The Falcon, we plan on playing all of Ed’s music. We have 12 big band charts by Ed in our book, eight of which are originals, and we’ll play a few Jaki Byard charts—when Ed was 19 years old, he performed with Jaki in Boston. We’ll also play charts that Ed performed and recorded with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra.” Throughout his five-decade-long performing career, Ed Xiques has repeatedly proved himself the consummate music pro, who can always be counted on to give his all, whether you catch him at the Village Vanguard, a Broadway theater, or an arena. Audiences around the globe have heard Xiques play with jazz greats including Toshiko Akiyoshi and Lew Tabackin, Duke Pearson, Mario Bauza, and Woody Herman, vocal legends such as Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Ray Charles, and Liza Minnelli, and pop and rock icons like Aerosmith, The Jackson Five, Ten Wheel Drive, and Gladys Knight. Xiques has appeared on more than 50 recordings, about a third of them with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis band. As a leader, he has released two albums featuring his own original compositions. Ed is a long-time member of the music faculty at Vassar College. The saxophonist is also a long-time resident composer with the Montclair, NJ-based Diane Moser’s Composers Big Band: This month marks the 20thanniversary of his tenure with the ensemble. “When it came time for me to find a lead alto player for the Composers Big Band in 1997, I called Ed,” Moser remembers. “His wife, Rosemary, answered the phone and told me that he was on a plane coming back from Russia, where he’d been on tour with Liza Minelli. Rosemary added that she knew he would want to come play.” She was right—Ed was onstage with Moser’s band within a week. “Ed has been the heart and soul of our big band for the past 20 years, and this is our tribute to him, an amazing musician, colleague and dear friend,” Moser declares. Over the past two decades, pianist and composer Moser has built a cult following in the New York metropolitan area with her Composers Big Band. At their frequent gigs, Moser’s CBB has showcased always-inspired works by band members and more than 100 guest artists, including internationally acclaimed jazz icons such as Jane Ira Bloom, Mark Dresser, Howard Johnson, Oliver Lake, and Michele Rosewoman. Formed by Moser and a dedicated group of musicians and composers with the intention of exploring the possibilities of big band music and moving it forward, the band has lived up to its mission since its January 1997 debut gig. Keeping a big band together for 20 years is no small feat, especially when it’s made up of players who lead their own bands and/or are in-demand sidemen. There’s a warm, family vibe to the DMCBB, presuming your family is enormous, talented, and eager to work and play together at every opportunity. After two decades, some of the original band members are still on the bandstand at every gig. In addition to pianist Moser, the current DMCBB lineup includes: Saxes: Ed Xiques, Rob Middleton, Marty Fogel, Barbara Cifelli, Craig Yaremko, Tom Colao; Trombones: Erick Storckman, Ben Williams, Matt Haviland, Dennis Argul; Trumpets: Mike Spengler, Jim Cifelli, Chris Rogers, Rob Henke; Rhythm: Larry Maltz (guitar), Andy Eulau (bass), Scott Neumann (drums). Regardless of the occasion or the repertoire, the style, or the complexity of the music, listeners can count on each Diane Moser’s Composer’s Big Band concert being heartfelt, dedicated, adventurous and flat-out fun: Listeners are gonna be entertained and inspired. Their June 3 appreciation of their long-time and beloved colleague Ed Xiques will be no exception! Diane Moser’s Composers Big Band Presents: A Tribute to Ed Xiques June 3;8PM The Falcon 1348 Route 9W; Marlboro NY 12542; (845) 236-7970 No tickets! No cover! Donations encouraged!
For more info: dianemosermusic.con
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