Stephen F. Austin State University

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Swingin' Axes and Swingin' Aces, Stephen F. Austin State University's jazz bands, will present a joint end-of-the-semester concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus.

The Swingin' Aces, under the direction of Deb Scott, SFA assistant professor of music, will open the concert with a program featuring several soloists.

Dr. Tom Houston, SFA associate professor of music and leader of the Tom Houston Orchestra, will be the featured vocalist on Roger Holmes' arrangement of "Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!"

Tyler sophomore Braxton Nichols, alto saxophone, and Orange sophomore Kyle Castilaw, trumpet, will be featured on Cole Porter's "Love for Sale," and Nacogdoches freshman David Castro, alto saxophone, will be featured on George Gershwin's "Fascinating Rhythm."

Chick Corea's "La Fiesta" will feature Nichols on flute and Katy senior India Aquina on piano. Denis DiBlasio's "Coconut Champagne" will feature Port Isabel senior Freddy Lopez on drums and Humble sophomore Darron Carrington on baritone saxophone.

For its portion of the program, The Swingin' Axes, under the direction of Gary Wurtz, SFA associate professor of music, will perform a classic arrangement of "When You're Smilin'" and Stan Kenton's "Time for a Change."

The band will also perform contemporary compositions such as "The Cheese that Time Forgot," "No Joy in Mudville" and "Brecker-Brac," featuring an array of student soloists.

The concert is a joint presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and College of Music. Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $2 for students. For tickets or more information, please visit www.sfasu.edu/finearts or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.