July 8, 2004
Jazz in July
The IU Art Museum offers free — as in, no cover — jazz Fridays this month
By Mike Leonard, The Scene
It's tempting to call the Indiana University Art Museum's Jazz in July series one of the great but lesser-known events of every summer.
But show up much past the 6:30 p.m. starting time and you might find yourself scanning the museum's Sculpture Terrace for a seat.
The Saxophone Cartel at Second Story. Staff photo by Monty Howell.
And with good reason.
The museum has put together another solid and varied program for the next four Fridays, beginning tomorrow with Bloomington's own Caswell Sisters. Both studied at an early age with the longtime jazz studies chairman and distinguished professor, David Baker, and both earned degrees in performance and jazz studies from the IU School of Music.
Most important, however, is that both have earned acclaim as performers, individually and together. Though Rachel sings and Sara plays violin, they share the kind of musical instincts that sibling vocalists sometimes demonstrate.
"Yes, it's true," Rachel said in an interview prior to performing at the Kentucky Center for the Arts in Louisville. "We can totally read each other, but sometimes if we haven't worked out an ending for a piece in advance, we'll end up playing the same note instead of the harmony."
"Her intonation is impeccable, her diction precise, her jazz sensibilities above reproach and — she swings like mad!" Baker says in praise of Rachel.
Sara's endorsements are equally impressive. "Sara Caswell is a phenomenal jazz violinist," says Matt Glaser chairman of the string department at Boston's Berklee College of Music. "She is the future of jazz string playing, a truly gifted musician and a wonderful person."
Sara Caswell, left, and Rachel Caswell perform Friday at the IU Art Museum. The sister act kicks off the Jazz in July concert series. Courtesy Photo.
Genre-crossing violinist Mark O'Connor had this to say about Sara's debut CD, First Song: "Most good violinists will never experience what Sara creates with her instrument. It is beautifully refined emotion that lifts the spirit and at the same time, crystallizes for me this thought: Jazz violin could really have something to offer again."
As with all four shows in the Jazz in July series, the Caswell Sisters' performance is free and open to the public, with refreshments available for purchase. In case of rain, concerts will be moved inside the IU Art Museum.
The following artists will also appear in the Jazz in July Series.
• July 16: The Bill Lancton Quartet. Lancton often performs in the Indianapolis-based world-beat band Dog Talk, and has 30 years of experience playing funk, jazz, rock and country as well. This performance will feature jazz renditions of several Joni Mitchell tunes and other songs from the 1960s and '70s.
• July 23: The Saxophone Cartel. Also performing tonight at Bear's Place, the Cartel is a sextet of IU students committed to playing original music and expanding the possibilities of saxophone music. The group utilizes soprano, alto, tenor, baritone and bass saxophones in addition to clarinet and flute and performs "straight ahead" jazz as well as jazz influenced by rock, classical and ragtime music.
• July 30: The Riverboat Ramblers with Marty Hodapp. Toe-tapping fun is the Riverboat Ramblers' specialty, with its Dixieland and ragtime repertoire including songs such as "Ain't Misbehavin'," "Bill Bailey," "Back Home Again in Indiana" and "When the Saints Go Marching In." Hodapp, who earned his masters in jazz studies from IU, currently teaches jazz history at IUPUI and Marian College in Indianapolis.
Reporter Mike Leonard can be reached at 331-4368, or by e-mail at mleonard@heraldt.com
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Last Updated:
07/14/2004
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