Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/29614
Jazz Guardians at FTCC a STAFF REPORT The Army Ground Forces Band’s 64 soldiers and two officers will be moving perma- nently to Fort Bragg this June with its parent unit, U.S. Army Forces Command. Eager to become a part of its new hometown com- munity, the band is sending its Jazz Guardians to perform a vanguard concert as part of Fayetteville’s Jazz Appreciation Month at the Fayetteville Technical Community College’s Horace Sisk Gymnasium, 6 p.m., April 22. The Jazz Guardians is an eleven-member ensemble whose primary mission is to maintain and promote the uniquely American art form of Jazz. The Jazz Guardians pay tribute to the big bands of yesteryear by performing the music made popular by such greats as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Glenn Miller and Woody Herman. Demonstrating great versatility, the group also performs the latest and most in- novative sounds of today’s most popular composers. “We’re really glad this opportunity to work with WFSS-FM 91.9 came up to introduce the Jazz Guardians during Jazz Appreciation Month as the first of many performances our band will be performing as we establish Fort Bragg and the Sandhills area as our new home,” said Maj. Treg Ancelet, the band com- mander and conductor. “It is particularly appropriate that we will feature the vocal talents of our Sgt. Shirley Dirden because the Smithsonian Institution has declared 2011 to be the year of the Female Jazz Artist.” The Jazz Guardians is just one Army Ground Forces Band ensemble. Other groups, or Music Performance Teams, include the concert and ceremonial bands, a brass quintet and brass ensemble, a woodwind quintet known as the Quintessential Winds, a rock/pop group called the Loose Cannons, a jazz combo, a Dixieland Band and the Brass Brigade, which pushes performance styles with a broad reper- toire of music from traditional Dixie to funk and rap and even a little soul. The band and its MPTs serve as musical ambassadors of the American combat Soldier to the American people. Indeed, one of The Army Ground Forces Band’s major missions is to serve as a community outreach asset for the Army’s largest command, United States Army Forces Command, currently headquartered at Fort McPherson, Ga., but relocat- ing here this summer in compliance with the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) legislation. Through parades, concerts, ceremonies and other public appearances, the band offers a positive perception of the U.S. military to diverse publics, pro- motes good will among its fellow Americans and fosters a sense of patriotism and national unity. In addition to traveling throughout the United States, performing at local, regional and national events, the band regularly holds master classes and clinics at middle schools, high schools and colleges, thus providing a valuable, free resource to the rising generation of America’s musicians by exposing them to professional musicians and a possible career path. Ancelet has already been in the area twice to meet with school music directors and arts and community organizations. “I’ve been very pleased with how enthusiastic everyone I’ve met on these visits has been that we are coming to Fort Bragg. That has given me lots of positives to take back to my Soldiers about what they have to look forward to when we arrive here,” he said. “And, as we settle in, I hope to meet with more schools and community organi- zations to discuss ways that we can collaborate with them.” The 64 soldiers assigned to the AGFB have passed highly selective auditions and are among the finest musicians in the United States Army Band Program. The majority of the band’s members have studied music at some of the finest universi- ties and conservatories. For more on the band and to request the band, go to www.forscom.army. mil/band. 22 UCW APRIL 20-26, 2011 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM CONNECTION Concert CHARLIE MIKE’S PUB 195 Star Point Road • 826-6453 Tues. Open Jam — Bring your own instrument Sat. Open mic THE CROWN CENTER 1960 COLISEUM DR.,438-4100 www.atthecrown.com May 7 The Love and Laughter Tour with Fantasia THE DOGHOUSE 3049 Owen Dr. • 910-826-9761 www.thedoghousegroup.com April 20 Mike Odonell April 22 5-Speed Live April 23 Third Degree April 24 Johnson Kinlaw April 27 Mike Odonell April 29 Almost Perfect April 30 Trial by Fire BHUSKE HARDWARE HOUSE 405 Hay Street • 437-9905 www.huskehardware.com Tues. Bryan Shaw Fri. & Sat. Live DJ and Dancing IT’Z ENTERTAINMENT CITY 4118 Legend Ave. • 910-826-4635 www.itzentertainmentcity.com April 20 DL Token April 21 DJ Shawn on the patio April 24 DL Token I\LIDOS — THE EUROSPOT 102 Person St. • 222-8237 Thurs. Euro Trance Party Fri. TGIF Dance Party Sat. Ladies Night Sun. Euro Element Dance Party PADDY’S 2606B Raeford Rd. • 910-677-0055 www.paddygibneypub.com Wed. Steel Tip Dart Competition Thurs. Paddy & Bill Fri. Paddy & Bill POINDEXTER’S SALOON 115 Dunn Rd. • 433-2089 Wed. Bike Night with live music writ-er [rahy-ter] – noun 1. a person engaged in writing books, articles, stories, etc., esp. as an occupation or profession; an author or journalist. If you see yourself in that light, Up & Coming Weekly would love you to join our creative, talented, community-oriented line-up of contributing writers. If you are interested in joining our writing team, e-mail sample articles or questions to: editor@upandcomingweekly.com For more informtion, call 910-484-6200.