{"id":669,"date":"2019-07-17T18:18:38","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:18:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wcsu.wpengine.com\/news-archives\/musicgraduatessoaronjazzweeknationalcharts\/"},"modified":"2019-07-17T18:18:38","modified_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:18:38","slug":"musicgraduatessoaronjazzweeknationalcharts","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/news-archives\/musicgraduatessoaronjazzweeknationalcharts\/","title":{"rendered":"2013 WCSU music graduates soar on JazzWeek national charts"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n


\n <\/p>\n

DANBURY, CONN. <\/strong>\u2014 Western Connecticut State University<\/a> music graduates Jonathan Blanck and Chris DeAngelis have reached the heights of the jazz radio charts during 2013 as performers on the Verve Jazz Ensemble\u2019s debut recording, \u201cIt\u2019s About Time,\u201d featured for more than three months since its release this spring on the national charts of the Web-based industry publication JazzWeek.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Blanck, a Shelton native who received a WCSU bachelor\u2019s degree in 2005 in music with jazz performance concentration, has performed as tenor saxophonist with the Verve Jazz Ensemble since the group\u2019s founding in 2006. Bass player Chris DeAngelis, of Naugatuck, a 2003 WCSU bachelor\u2019s recipient in music who specialized in jazz studies, also was a member of the original VJE ensemble and returned as a guest artist featured on \u201cIt\u2019s About Time.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The recording, which also features VJE founder Josh Feldstein on drums, Tatum Greenblatt on trumpet and Matt Oestreicher on piano, peaked at No. 5 this spring and remained at No. 36 in the week of July 1 on the JazzWeek survey of most frequently played recordings on jazz radio nationwide. The July 1 survey marked the 14th consecutive week that \u201cIt\u2019s About Time\u201d has reached the JazzWeek national charts. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Jamie Begian, chair of the WCSU Department of Music and director of the jazz studies program, has recognized Blanck and DeAngelis for their potential to become accomplished jazz musicians since their undergraduate days at Western. Begian has experienced their artistry and professional skill first-hand when he has invited them to join his own jazz group for performance engagements in New York and Connecticut.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cI can give none of my former students a higher compliment than to invite them to play in my band, and these two are among my favorites to play with,\u201d Begian remarked. \u201cThey\u2019re great people and great musicians, open-minded while rooted firmly in jazz tradition. They know how to play all the standards that everyone should know, but they also know how to take off from that foundation to become outstanding and original performers.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s About Time\u201d marks the first CD recording by the Verve Jazz Ensemble, already well-known for their popular performances at jazz clubs in Connecticut and the region. Among the featured tracks on the recording are Blanck’s arrangements of the Todd Dameron classic \u201cLady Bird\u201d as well as a quintet adaptation of the big-band favorite \u201cBig Swing Face.\u201d DeAngelis\u2019 performance on bass is showcased in the introductory solo to Henry Mancini\u2019s \u201cThe Days of Wine and Roses\u201d and provides richness and depth to other tracks on the album.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom bebop rhythms to sweet melodic ballads and swinging romps forged with exciting solo statements, the Verve Jazz Ensemble delivers quite an attention-grabbing first effort, drawing inspiration for an encore performance,\u201d wrote jazz critic Edward Blanco for the Web publication \u201cAll About Jazz.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

DeAngelis has explored a wide range of musical stylings in jazz, rock, hip-hop and experimental genres in performance with VJE, The Breakfast, Kung Fu and other groups. \u201cChris is unbelievably solid as a bass player,\u201d Begian said. \u201cHe has unbelievable sound and great musicianship; he hears what you\u2019re playing and he\u2019s right with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Blanck has played tenor saxophone with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra as well as legendary jazz artists such as Funkee Boy and P-Funk, and established his reputation as a jazz arranger with VJE and artistis including Joan Jett and Joe Perry. Known for his skill at improvisation and nuanced sax performance in the jazz and funk genres, he has also become a mentor for many emerging young musicians. In his individual instruction, master classes and music clinics, \u201cJon has a great way of communicating with young people with musical gifts,\u201d Begian said. \u201cHe has the kind of ability that enables him to relate to them and make lessons fun, but also to teach them the fundamentals of music.\u201d <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Begian credited DeAngelis and Blanck for providing the example of their performance skills and leadership as part of graduating classes in the first years of the new millennium who transformed the music program at Western.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cThese two men and their classmates played a very important role in the emergence of our department and made us what we are today,\u201d Begian said. \u201cBy their example, they remind our students today how valuable their education is, and how committed a person needs to be to work at their craft and follow in their footsteps.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

For more information, contact the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n


\n Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England\u2019s best small private universities.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n