Virginia Commonwealth University

“It Could Happen to You”

The VCU Jazz Studies Program’s 2002 CD, “It Could Happen to You,” features our Jazz Orchestra I ensemble, one of our small jazz ensembles and our Faculty Jazz Septet. Also included are two performances with guest New York trumpet soloist Brian Lynch, whose credits include the Horace Silver Quintet, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Eddie Palmieri and Prince.

The CD has three live and nine studio cuts with nine works composed or arranged by VCU students and faculty. No intercuts or overdubs were made within any selection.

“It Could Happen to You” is available at CDBaby.com or (800) BUY-MY-CD with any major credit or debit card. You can also find the CD locally at Plan 9 music stores at (804) 353-9996.

Track list

Performers

VCU Jazz Orchestra I

Director: Antonio García

Woodwinds: Colin Killalea (alto, soprano and vibraslap) Mike Jacob (alto [lead on track three], soprano, flute and maracas), Matt Scott (tenor and claves), Bryan Taylor (tenor and agogo bells) and Tony Forgey (baritone, clarinet and shaker)
Trumpets and flugelhorns: Nick Panos (lead), Taylor Barnett (lead flugelhorn on track four), Michael Isler and Mark Ingraham
Trombones: Sam Savage, David Brogan, Mark Blankenship and Chris Neal (bass trombone).
Rhythm: Trey Pollard (guitar), Ryan Corbitt (piano), Curtis Fye (bass) and Robby Sinclair (drums), plus Jessica Keeton (marimba) and Kelli Strawbridge (triangle and conga) on track three

VCU Small Jazz Ensemble

Director: Skip Gailes

Saxophone: Colin Killalea (alto/tenor), Matt Scott (tenor) and Bryan Taylor (tenor and background on track 10)
Trumpet: Taylor Barnett
Trombone: Sam Savage (background on track nine)
Guitar: Trey Pollard
Piano: Daniel Clarke
Bass: Curtis Fye
Drums: Robby Sinclair

VCU Faculty Jazz Septet

Tenor: Skip Gailes
Trumpet: Dontae Winslow
Trombone: Antonio García
Guitar: Mike Ess
Piano: Bob Hallahan
Bass: Victor Dvoskin
Drums: Howard Curtis

VCU tenor saxophone players Matt Scott and Colin Killalea perform background lines on track 11.

Credits

• Producer – Antonio García
• Engineer – Curt Blankenship
• Mastering – Disc Makers
• Graphics and layout – Antonio García
• Layout assistant – Nanci Oliver
• Artwork – “Red Trombonist,” by Holly Seon-Wilson

Producer and director notes

More than half of the Jazz Orchestra I selections were recorded in just one take: “Hoss’ Flat” from Notre Dame, “Blue Moon” and “Splat 9” from our spring concert and “Blackbird” and “Samoana” from the studio sessions. Most of the student and faculty small-group selections were recorded in two takes. No intercuts or overdubs were made within any tune on the CD. In fact, no pieces were stopped or re-recorded due to solo-quality issues; these musicians perform at a very high level. Thus this CD represents well the sound of our VCU Jazz Studies Program.

Only three selections on the CD called for an individual to conduct an ensemble — “Blackbird” for its surprises and “Blue Moon” and “Splat 9” for their guest artist. All the other music was recorded without benefit of a conductor, as is often the case for VCU jazz performances.

I could provide “liner notes” as to the contributions of each student on this recording session, but I prefer to let the music speak for itself. The recording sessions were a great pleasure due to the musicianship and creativity of all involved. Curt Blankenship’s expertise as an engineer was a joy to observe, both then and in the subsequent mixdown sessions, and Disc Makers proved to be a fine partner in the mastering and duplication process.

Technical notes

The VCU Jazz CD was recorded using some basic yet powerful equipment. One of two Alesis XT-20 ADAT machines received input via the light pipe from the 16-channel RAMSA WR-DA7 mixer. The second ADAT’s analog inputs allowed for input from Audio Buddy preamps and a Mackie VLZ-1402. Neuman, AKG, CAD, Shure and EV microphones were employed on the concert hall stage, which had been acoustically prepared and segmented for the occasion.

Once the music was on tape, equipment was relocated to a faculty office for mixdown. Both ADAT machines were digitally connected to the DA7 via light pipe. A J.L. Cooper black box allowed for synchronization between the automation of the mixer and the tape machines. With the use of the Lexicon MPX100 digital reverb to sweeten the room sound, it was very pleasant listening to the work through the Alesis monitor speakers powered by a Crest amp. Mixes of the final tunes were stored and organized on the Alesis ML-9600. The exception to all of the above was “Blues in Hoss’ Flat,” which was recorded live to a MiniDisc recorder via a stereo microphone at the external site and then transferred directly to VCU’s initial compilation without any alterations.

The final disc was sent to Disc Makers for a mastering treatment that only improved an already excellent final product.

Acknowledgements

I wish to sincerely thank the following people for their contributions to this project: Matt Catingub for his complimentary use of “Samoana” (available from Walrus Music); Holly Seon-Wilson for her complimentary use of the painting “Red Trombonist;” Brian Lynch for his charts and performance; Larry Dwyer at the University of Notre Dame for his live recording; Curt Blankenship, engineer and colleague par excellence; W.E. Singleton and Jamey Aebersold for their support; all Jazz Students Fund contributors; my wife, María, for her patience and understanding; all VCU music faculty, especially Donald Bick for use of his studio’s marimba and Jazz Studies founder Doug Richards, who has influenced all on this recording; Linda Johnston, JoAnne Welling and Brooke Kingsley, VCU music staff; Amy Singleton and John Bryan, VCU Arts development; Joseph Seipel, associate dean, VCU School of the Arts; John Guthmiller, chair, VCU Department of Music; Richard Toscan, dean, VCU School of the Arts; and VCU President Eugene Trani, Ph.D. The VCU Jazz Studies Program is a remarkable family of faculty and students within the team that is the Department of Music. It is an honor to serve with them.

— Antonio García, director of VCU Jazz Studies

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