Diversions (CSULA album)
Encyclopedia
Diversions is a 1987 album (LP Vinyl) released by the California State University, Los Angeles
Jazz Ensemble, it featured the Charles Richard Suite for Jazz Orchestra which was premiered by Dave Edwards
earlier that year. This group proved to be one of the finest college jazz orchestras of that era with having placed in the finals of the Pacific Coast Collegiate Jazz Festival. The jazz band had numerous student musicians that have made a name for themselves as professionals to include Sharon Hirata, Luis Bonilla
, Jack Cooper
, Charlie Richard, Eric "Bobo" Correa, Vince Dublino, Alan Parr, and José Arellano.
on piano for the recording and world-class saxophonist Dave Edwards
who premiered Charlie Richard's work earlier that academic year.
The qualities of the LP that set it apart from numerous university jazz records of that era is the fact it was entirely written and composed by the students and faculty of CSULA at such a high level; also this being the third LP in a row CSULA had done this.
There has been a consistent tradition of musicians coming from the CSULA program who have worked with major musical acts, on major studio and movie projects, and hold positions in higher education in music. The roster on this album is self evident as to the diversity and level of student musicians CSULA developed at that time and has for many years dating far back to musicians (graduates) such as Lennie Niehaus
and Gabe Baltazar
.
California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Los Angeles is a public comprehensive university, part of the California State University system...
Jazz Ensemble, it featured the Charles Richard Suite for Jazz Orchestra which was premiered by Dave Edwards
Dave Edwards (musician)
Dave Edwards was an American big band-style musician who most notably was the lead alto saxophonist and multireedist for the long running, weekly Lawrence Welk Show on T.V. for over a decade from 1968 through 1979....
earlier that year. This group proved to be one of the finest college jazz orchestras of that era with having placed in the finals of the Pacific Coast Collegiate Jazz Festival. The jazz band had numerous student musicians that have made a name for themselves as professionals to include Sharon Hirata, Luis Bonilla
Luis Bonilla
Luis Bonilla is an American Afro-Cuban jazz and Latin jazz trombonist born in Los Angeles, California of Costa Rican descent. He is a Grammy Award- winning performer, composer, and Music Professor, about whom the New York Times has described as the artist who "explodes the usual musical structures...
, Jack Cooper
The Chamber Wind Music of Jack Cooper
The Chamber Wind Music of Jack Cooper is the first classical/new music studio recording featuring numerous performing artists recording chamber wind music of the composer on the Centaur Records label.- Music :- Background :...
, Charlie Richard, Eric "Bobo" Correa, Vince Dublino, Alan Parr, and José Arellano.
Background
In 1984 and 1985 the California State University, Los Angeles Music Department and CSULA Associated Students decided to fund LP recordings of the jazz ensemble to better serve as a teaching tool for student music, jazz groups. Diversions is the third of six albums to come from CSULA during the 1980s featuring the award winning CSULA #1 Jazz Ensemble. The LP contains tracks from the #1 CSULA Jazz Ensemble to include compositions of four students and from the director (professor David Caffey). The group was fortunate enough to have the assistance or both George StoneGeorge Stone (composer)
George Stone is an American musician and educator. He has composed or arranged over 100 works for instrumental ensembles, with the bulk of his material for jazz band.-History:...
on piano for the recording and world-class saxophonist Dave Edwards
Dave Edwards (musician)
Dave Edwards was an American big band-style musician who most notably was the lead alto saxophonist and multireedist for the long running, weekly Lawrence Welk Show on T.V. for over a decade from 1968 through 1979....
who premiered Charlie Richard's work earlier that academic year.
The qualities of the LP that set it apart from numerous university jazz records of that era is the fact it was entirely written and composed by the students and faculty of CSULA at such a high level; also this being the third LP in a row CSULA had done this.
There has been a consistent tradition of musicians coming from the CSULA program who have worked with major musical acts, on major studio and movie projects, and hold positions in higher education in music. The roster on this album is self evident as to the diversity and level of student musicians CSULA developed at that time and has for many years dating far back to musicians (graduates) such as Lennie Niehaus
Lennie Niehaus
Lennie Niehaus is an American alto saxophonist, arranger, and composer on the West Coast jazz scene. He has played with the Stan Kenton big band, and various other jazz bands on the West Coast of the U.S. Niehaus has arranged and composed for motion pictures, including several produced by Clint...
and Gabe Baltazar
Gabe Baltazar
Gabe Baltazar is a Filipino-American jazz alto saxophonist.Considered as one of the last great alumni from the Stan Kenton Orchestra, Baltazar moved to the U.S. mainland from Hawaii in the mid-1950s, to record music with Paul Togawa in 1957, and spent a brief unrecorded period in 1960 with the...
.
Track listing
Recording Sessions
- Recorded: May 16, 17, and 22, 1987, Sage and Sound Recording, Hollywood, California
- Mixing: June 10, 15, 29, 1987, Sage and Sound Recording, Hollywood, California
Musicians
- Conductor: David Caffey
- Saxes and woodwinds: Charlie Richard, Sharon Hirata, Jack CooperBig Band Reflections of Cole PorterBig Band Reflections of Cole Porter is the first album by the Jazz Orchestra of the Delta and features trumpeter Marvin Stamm and vocalist , this was released in June 2003 on the Summit Records jazz label. The CD has been extensively reviewed across the United States and the U.K...
, Scott AckermanCoast to Coast (McDonald's Jazz Band LP)Coast to Coast is a 1984 album released by McDonald's All-American High School Jazz Band under the direction of Bob Curnow. The group was formed in 1981 as a part of the McDonald's All-American High School Band program that had started back in the late 1960s to feature talented, up and coming...
, Randall Willis - Trumpets and flugelhorns: Simon Austin, Alan Parr, Monty Montgomery, Chris Mauger, Jim Bynum
- Trombones: Gary Smith, Luis BonillaLuis BonillaLuis Bonilla is an American Afro-Cuban jazz and Latin jazz trombonist born in Los Angeles, California of Costa Rican descent. He is a Grammy Award- winning performer, composer, and Music Professor, about whom the New York Times has described as the artist who "explodes the usual musical structures...
, Jose Arellano, Rick Acosta - Tuba: Dr. John Swain
- Guitar: John Taylor
- Piano: George StoneGeorge Stone (composer)George Stone is an American musician and educator. He has composed or arranged over 100 works for instrumental ensembles, with the bulk of his material for jazz band.-History:...
- Vibraphone and marimba: Cory Estrada
- Bass: Mark Tavarez
- Drums: Vince Dublino
- Percussion: Eric Correa
Production
- Recording engineers: Jim Mooney, Bob Kinsey, and Jerry Wood
- Mixing engineers: Jim Mooney and David Caffey
- Mastering: K Disc
- Cover art: Randy Piland