Martin Luther College hosts jazz music festival

By TONY ZIEBOL

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- A packed house was on hand Saturday night at Martin Luther College to listen to nationally recognized trumpet soloist and composer-arranger Steve Wright and the Steve Wright Big Band.

The performance capped the first day of the first ever Martin Luther College Jazz Festival.

Earlier in the day, music students from four Lutheran schools in Wisconsin and Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School learned from the masters in clinics and classes given by various members of the Steve Wright Big Band.

"(The clinics were) very positive," said Paul Wendland, who teaches music at Martin Luther College. "It's been a wonderful experience both educationally and motivationally. There's some really wonderful musicians (in the Steve Wright Big Band)."

Formed in 1974, the band frequently plays for different concerts, conventions and private parties across the midwest.

Members of the band have performed with noted artists such as Buddy Rich, Prince, Luther Allison and Maynard Ferguson, among others.

Wright, who has composed-arranged hundreds of works, is an adjunct Assistant Professor of jazz ensembles, trumpet and arranging at Gustavis Adolphus College in St. Peter. and has also played with such stars as Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Johnny Mathis.

He has played the trumpet with the Minnesota Orchestra, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, recorded tracks for Motown Records and currently performs with his own groups, at Orchestra Hall, the Guthrie Theatre and the Ordway Music Theatre.

At Saturday's performance in the Wittenberg Collegiate Center Auditorium, many of the songs the band played were composed-arranged by Wright.

A High School Jazz Ensemble Concert will be held 2 p.m. Sunday at Luther Student Center Gymnasium.

Participating bands include Fox Valley Lutheran High School from Appleton, Wis., Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School, Jackson, Wis., Lakeside Lutheran High School, Lake Mills, Wis., Wisconsin Lutheran High School from Milwaukee, Wis. and Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School.

Each band will perform four selections.