Seventeen musicians come together manipulating pounds of brass and percussion to make the jazz red hot. Add to that the best arrangements of Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and a world premiere of a new work. The 10-piece Brad Linde Ensemble together with his six-piece group, Sax of a Kind, join forces with the legendary alto sax man Lee Konitz to flood the Mansion at Strathmore with their mighty sound on Thursday.
“My band was modeled after the Miles Davis Band of the late 1940s and Lee Konitz was actually a member of that band,” said Linde, the 32-year old bandleader. “Lee is one of two surviving members of that band.”
| ONSTAGE |
| Brad Linde Big Band Ensemble with Lee Konitz |
| » Where: Mansion at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda |
| » When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday |
| » Info: General Admission $30, 301-581-5100, strathmore.org |
Konitz was also part of the Miles Davis legendary recording that became “Birth of the Cool.” Davis, who worked with Charlie Parker’s jazz band, recorded 12 songs over a two-year period and used unlikely instrumentation calling for a French horn and tuba, as well as the more traditional baritone and alto saxophones, piano and upright bass. The result was cool and almost orchestral.
Linde, in Miles Davis-fashion, calls his ensemble the “essential part of a big band pared down with orchestral instruments” and perfect for the world premiere of rising jazz star Dan Tepfer’s eight movement’s of new music. Tepfer, on piano, will also accompany sax man Konitz, for whom he wrote these latest works.
“Lee and Dan have worked together as a duo and have a great rapport,” Linde continued. “Dan has the best insight on how to showcase Lee.”
In truth, it is the entire 17-man ensemble showcasing one another, as is the way of the big bands.
“We’re a powerful presentation all coming from 17 musicians having a good time and listening to each other closely,” Linde explained. “It’s a community of improvisers where everyone performs the arrangement; then each musician breaks [out] to have their own voice heard. It’s power — the swing feeling and harmony, and it’s definitely infectious.”
