LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 23, 2012) – This weekend's recital by Miles Osland is unlikely to feature "raindrops on roses" or "whiskers on kittens," but it will showcase some of the jazz musician's favorite performances over his years in Lexington. "Some of My Favorite Things," featuring Osland on flute and saxophone "accompanied by" more than 100 musicians, will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, at the University of Kentucky Singletary Center for the Arts Recital Hall. The concert is free and open to the public.
"Some of My Favorite Things" was created during a sabbatical by Miles Osland, director of UK Jazz Studies and professor of saxophone. In preparation for a solo tour, the artist researched and put together a "one man show" that he could take on the road featuring versions of work he had done with several UK and local jazz groups.
"What I did was go back into the studio and take my tracks out of recordings that I've done with Dimartino/Osland Jazz Orchestra, Kentucky Jazz Repertory Orchestra, UK Jazz Ensemble, UK Wind Ensemble, UK Percussion Ensemble, UK Symphony Band and the Osland/Dailey Jazztet," Osland says. "I remixed over two hours worth of music with these different ensembles for a 'music minus one' live performance."
Osland traveled with only a sound system, but hoped to transport audiences to concerts with these jazz groups.
"The goal was if I got the balance just right for each hall that I was playing in, and if you closed your eyes, it would sound like I was playing live with DOJO, KJRO, ODJT, etc." Osland says. "It's a very cool effect."
Osland's tour in October 2011 took the musician to concert halls across the southeast, along the Atlantic Coast. It culminated with a concert for a Selmer Paris event at Steinway Hall in New York City. Osland was invited to perform the Steinway Hall concert by Jerome Selmer, himself.
Coming "full circle," Osland in a way is revisiting the concept behind his first recital at UK more than 23 years ago where he played live with a pre-recorded track of approximately 23 saxophones playing simultaneously. The saxophonist had recorded all the individual tracks and in essence was accompanying himself in the concert.
This Sunday, the musician is bringing along his band mates and students on stage, celebrating more than 20 years of his musical associations and friendships in Lexington.
"What's nice about this time, is that I get to play with all of the ensembles that I've been associated with over the years, but without the technical hassle of getting 50+ musicians on and off the stage," says Osland.
Osland has distinguished himself as an educator, recording and performing artist, author, arranger and composer. He has appeared throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia as a guest conductor, performer and clinician for Selmer Saxophones, Rico reeds and Bay Woodwind mouthpieces. His compositions and arrangements, available through Walrus Music, have been recognized and supported by fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Kentucky Arts Council, and by numerous other arts foundations.
Osland, who holds a master's degree from Eastman School of Music, has authored three books available through Dorn Publications and his scholarly work can be found in a variety of publications including Downbeat, Jazz Educators Journal, Jazz Player Magazine, Saxophone Journal, Selmer Woodwind Notes and Windplayer Magazine. He also has three books/CDs published by Warner Brothers.
At the UK School of Music in UK's College of Fine Arts, Osland conducts the UK Jazz Ensemble and UK Mega-Sax.
MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, (859) 257-8716 or whitney.hale@uky.edu
