You reached this page through the archive. Click here to return to the archive.

Note: This article is over a year old and information contained in it may no longer be accurate. Please use the contact information in the lower-left corner to verify any information in this article.

'St. Olaf sound' includes funk and salsa, thanks to jazz ensembles

By Nancy Ashmore
November 24, 2002

"The St. Olaf sound" for decades has brought to mind the crisp, clean tones of the college's classical ensembles or the inspired melodies of the famed St. Olaf Christmas Festival. More and more, however, the sounds of St. Olaf include funk and salsa -- thanks to David Hagedorn, director of jazz bands. This weekend, people can see (and hear) for themselves how important swing, be-bop, fusion, funk, salsa, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian and New Orleans grooves have become to the St. Olaf music scene. The student ensembles Jazz II and Jazz III will perform at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 24, in the Pause of Buntrock Commons. The concert is free and open to the public. The concert also will feature the Keith McCutchen Trio: pianist, composer and arranger Keith McCutchen, bassist Kevin Clements and Hagedorn, a percussionist. McCutchen, who also directs the St. Olaf Gospel Choir, joined the St. Olaf faculty this fall.

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.