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83:(formerly UAB SuperJazz) was founded in the 1970s by several Birmingham, Alabama musicians who were interested in big band jazz, including Charles Ard, Mallory Pierce, Sonny Harris, Bernie Bell, and Dr. Everett Lawler. Initially, the band met and rehearsed at Boutwell Recording Studio in Birmingham. Later, the founding members of SuperJazz decided to affiliate with the newly formed Music Department at the
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Following the successful recording of "Lou's Blues," Reach decided to make the MCJO an ongoing official organization, dedicated to the continuance of the great tradition of the
American jazz orchestra. He planned a series of jazz orchestra recordings, featuring well-known but under-recorded artists,
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Ray Reach, founding director of the MCJO recently (January, 2010) began work on a new recording to be released in the first quarter of 2011. The title of this recording is "Spinning Wheel - The Magic City Jazz
Orchestra plays the music of Blood, Sweat and Tears." The CD will feature several former
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So, in 1999, Marini and Reach began work on co-producing a recording titled "Lou's Blues" at Bates
Brothers Recording in Hueytown, a suburb of Birmingham. Both Marini and Reach agreed that for this new recording they would assemble a new band composed of some of the regular members of SuperJazz,
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Mr. Reach suggested to Marini that a recording of his numerous big band compositions and arrangements was long overdue. Further, Reach suggested, Marini could make an exceptionally high quality recording using the musicians from SuperJazz and the recording facilities available in the
Birmingham
87:(UAB), and subsequently became the first performing musical ensemble connected with UAB. After a 20-plus year association with the UAB Music Department, ties were severed and the band adopted
60:. The mission of the group is to "...perform and record big band jazz music written by well known but under-recorded jazz artists." (From the Mission Statement of the MCJO bylaws.)
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as its rehearsal and concert home for several years. As of
September 2007, the group now presents concerts four times a year at the new Brock Recital Hall at
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181:(UAB). Mr. Marini subsequently came to Birmingham, where he conducted jazz workshops and appeared in concert with the SuperJazz Big Band.
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in
Birmingham, Alabama. SuperJazz has remained a very popular jazz orchestra in the Birmingham metro area for more than 30 years.
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supplemented by other players from the area. This new band needed a new name, Thus, the Magic City Jazz
Orchestra was born.
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for the
Performing Arts, features arrangements by Founding Director Everett Lawler, trombonist Charlie Ard, saxophonist
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130:" was released by UAB Entertainment Records. The CD, produced by UAB Music Department faculty members
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area. Mr. Marini agreed to do just that. This recording was, in fact, Marini's debut as a leader.
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The liner notes for this CD were written by Grammy Award-winning arranger and composer
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and founding director of the Magic City Jazz
Orchestra, contacted New York saxophonist
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SuperJazz has performed and/or recorded with many notable jazz artists, including
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Mart Avant, Chris Gordon, John Taylor, Craig
Konicek, Bo Berry and Darryl Jones
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Steve Pryor, Edson Worden, Dr. Bob Black, Charles Ard, and Jim Moeller
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in order to hire him to be guest artist and clinician for the annual
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290:, who was formerly head of A & R (Artists and Repertoire) for
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154:. SuperJazz has spawned a number of spin-off groups, such as the
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performing in concert with SuperJazz. Photo by Ray Reach.
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members of Blood, Sweat and Tears as soloists, including
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ensemble which was founded in 1999 as a spin-off of the
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To date, the MCJO has made recordings with saxophonist
543:From an interview with Ray Reach, January 16, 2010
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402:Magic City Jazz Orchestra at AllAboutJazz.com
270:, Grady Chandler, Daniel Western and Kim Bain
20:Magic City Jazz Orchestra Founding Director
442:Night Flight Big Band at AllAboutJazz.com
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632:Musical groups from Birmingham, Alabama
360:UAB SuperJazz, Featuring Ellis Marsalis
128:UAB SuperJazz, Featuring Ellis Marsalis
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489:Lou Marini at Bates Brothers Recording
567:Magic City Jazz Orchestra on Facebook
179:University of Alabama at Birmingham
158:and the Magic City Jazz Orchestra.
85:University of Alabama at Birmingham
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627:Musical groups established in 1999
384:and the Magic City Jazz Orchestra.
374:and the Magic City Jazz Orchestra.
309:) performs with the band, as does
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126:. In 2001, a recording titled "
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24:(at the piano), performing at
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557:Ray Reach - Official Website
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622:Jazz musicians from Alabama
612:Jazz ensembles from Alabama
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562:Official SuperJazz Website
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56:jazz pianist and vocalist
590:Magic City Jazz Orchestra
572:Magic City Jazz Orchestra
526:Magic City Jazz Orchestra
420:Boutwell Recording Studio
313:(lead trumpeter with the
297:In addition, bass player
217:MCJO's founding director
34:Magic City Jazz Orchestra
323:Saturday Night Live Band
165:, then director of the
331:Blood, Sweat and Tears
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138:and recorded at UAB's
81:The SuperJazz Big Band
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431:Andy Martin's Website
315:Count Basie Orchestra
307:Count Basie Orchestra
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156:Night Flight Big Band
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465:"SuperJazz Big Band"
140:Alys Stephens Center
598:at AllAboutJazz.com
592:at AllAboutJazz.com
516:at AllAboutJazz.com
301:(formerly with the
54:Birmingham, Alabama
596:SuperJazz Big Band
581:SuperJazz Big Band
531:2007-12-23 at the
512:2007-04-06 at the
407:2007-12-23 at the
252:Founding Director:
233:Jr. and trumpeter
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225:in New York, 2004.
93:Samford University
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46:SuperJazz Big Band
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26:Samford University
453:UAB Jazz Ensemble
292:Blue Note Records
167:UAB Jazz Ensemble
40:) is an American
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467:. Archived from
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378:Live at WorkPlay
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148:Steve Sample Sr
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502:"Lou's Blues"
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471:on 2009-04-29
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317:) and "Blue"
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473:. Retrieved
469:the original
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349:and others.
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303:Ramsey Lewis
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221:(left) with
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150:and pianist
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507:Jack Bowers
367:Lou's Blues
353:Discography
268:Neil McLean
245:Lou's Blues
240:Lou's Blues
146:, arranger
144:Neil McLean
116:Andy Martin
100:Ernie Watts
606:Categories
500:Review of
475:2008-08-19
389:References
382:Lew Soloff
372:Lou Marini
347:Tom Malone
343:Lew Soloff
339:Lou Marini
319:Lou Marini
288:Bob Belden
280:Trombones:
264:Gary Wheat
260:Woodwinds:
247:included:
235:Lew Soloff
231:Lou Marini
223:Lou Marini
209:Recordings
203:Tom Malone
199:Lew Soloff
195:Lou Marini
171:Lou Marini
112:Chuck Redd
108:Lew Soloff
104:Lou Marini
48:(formerly
617:Big bands
274:Trumpets:
255:Ray Reach
219:Ray Reach
163:Ray Reach
161:In 1998,
152:Ray Reach
132:Ray Reach
58:Ray Reach
22:Ray Reach
529:Archived
510:Archived
405:Archived
193:such as
72:Pianist
585:Myspace
576:Myspace
333:fame).
64:History
52:) by
329:and
321:(of
134:and
122:and
42:jazz
38:MCJO
32:The
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574:on
505:by
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36:(
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