Airmen of Note Headline Upcoming Jazz Festivals

Published Feb. 5, 2015
By Master Sgt. Andy Axelrad

Washington, D.C -- In late February, the Airmen of Note will head out of town for two exciting jazz festival appearances. With a number of Note members deployed in support of our troops, the band is getting a helping hand from a cadre of very talented musicians, including our very own Chief Master Sergeant (ret.) Paul Henry on bass, and trombonist extraordinaire Technical Sergeant Josh Cullum from The USAF Band Ceremonial Brass. Another standout player giving us an assist is Navy Commodores guitarist, and former Note member, Musician First Class Shawn Purcell. Also from the Commodores, we are pleased to welcome Musician First Class Thomas Eby on split lead trumpet. Laying it down on fourth trumpet, from The United States Army Band, "Pershing's Own," is Staff Sergeant Lorenzo Trujillo. Finally, subbing in on Baritone saxophone is Musician First Class Doug O'Connor from the U.S. Naval Academy Band. A big thanks goes out to all our sister service bands for their flexibility and cooperation in "loaning" us their great players!

The first of the performances is at the highly renowned Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow, Idaho. The band will headline the festival on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 8 p.m., performing at the Kibbie Events Center on the campus of the University of Idaho. We are honored to be performing with vibraphonist Stefon Harris, the festival's artist-in-residence. An outstanding jazz musician, educator and composer, Stefon is a fine modern exemplar of the tradition established by the great Lionel Hampton, whose spirit is celebrated at the festival. Highlights of the concert include three of Harris' tunes: "Let's Take a Trip to the Sky," "Ellison's Song," and "Devil in the Details," along with an inventive reworking of Horace Silver's chestnut, "Cape Verdean Blues."

Next, the band jets to Springfield, Missouri. An up-and-coming hotbed of jazz activity, Springfield hosts the Missouri State University Jazz Festival. The Note will be performing two original and highly inventive arrangements by guest guitarist Purcell entitled, "Doin' The Shake" and "Might This Be Bop." The jazz aficionados of Springfield are sure to enjoy these tunes and the rest of the well-seasoned mix of charts the Note has in store for them. We take the stage at 7 p.m. on Feb. 28 at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts. Ticket information and site addresses can be found on the Band website at http://www.usafband.af.mil/events/index.asp. See you there!