Guest saxophonist Tom Washatka to join Ripon College jazz ensembles in April 26 concert

The Ripon College Jazz Combo and Jazz Ensemble will perform Friday, April 26. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Demmer Recital Hall, C.J. Rodman Center for the Arts. Admission is free and open to the public. It is part of the Rodman Arts Celebration which will offer a poetry reading, student-written one-act play, concert and student art exhibit opening that evening starting at 6 p.m.

Tom Washatka will be the guest saxophonist for the jazz concert.

Selections will include “Hay Burner,” by Sammy Nestico; “Idioteque,” by Radiohead, arranged by Patricia Darling; “Rhyme,” by David Springfield; “Milestones,” by Miles Davis; “Canvas,” by Robert Glasper; “Hang Gliding,” by Maria Schneider; “Folk Song,” by Paul Dietrich; and “Cerulean Sky,” by Fred Sturm.

“Bye, Bye Blackbird,” by Ray Henderson and Mort Dixon, arranged by Thad Jones, will feature vocalist Lucie Hodgkins ’25 of Winneconne, Wisconsin. “Splanky,” by Neal Hefti, will feature Washatka on tenor saxophone.

Adjunct Instructor of Music Paul Dietrich is the conductor.

Washatka is a saxophonist, composer, arranger, recording engineer and producer who has been performing, producing, and recording music for more than four decades. Born in Milwaukee, he graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 1981 and immediately opened Steel Moon Recording, a recording studio, and released his first album, “Island Dancer,” in 1983 with pianist and composer John Harmon.

He has appeared on more than 40 recordings as a performer (many of them with his wife, Janet Planet) and has engineered more than 45 albums. Of particular note to the Ripon College community is his appearance on the 2002 album by Matrix, “Proud Flesh.”

Members of Jazz Combo and Jazz Ensemble, which include both students and community members, are:

Woodwinds:
Benjamin Cabala ’24 of Madison, Wisconsin, alto saxophone and flute; Geoff Guevara-Geer ’92 of Ripon, Wisconsin, tenor saxophone; Alec Marcinkevic ’26 of East Troy, Wisconsin, alto saxophone; Brennan Martin, baritone saxophone; Grace McCrery ’26 of Marion, Ohio, clarinet; Angela Mosconi ’26 of Gillett, Wisconsin, tenor saxophone and guitar; Caroline Reabe, tenor saxophone; Chloe Studinski ’27 of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, clarinet; and Morgan Sullivan ’25 of Kimberly, Wisconsin, alto and soprano saxophone.

Low Brass:
Rori Beatty ’26 of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, cello; Matthew Buchholz ’27 of Jefferson, Wisconsin, trombone; Kurt Dietrich of Ripon, Wisconsin, trombone; Casey Getz, trombone; and Haileey Pick ’25 of Kingwood, Texas, trombone.

Trumpets:
Grace Blakeslee ’26 of Green Bay, Wisconsin; Danielle Boerson; Ginny Pollock of Green Lake, Wisconsin; and Ruth Roltgen ’25 of Brandon, Wisconsin.

Rhythm Section:
Samantha Campbell ’26 of Columbus, Wisconsin, acoustic bass; Erik Dietrich of Ripon, Wisconsin, electric bass; Maria Dietrich of Ripon, Wisconsin, piano; Ben Paulson ’15 of Ripon, Wisconsin, drum set; and Steve Yeomans of Green Lake, Wisconsin, piano.

(Photo: Tom Washatka)

Posted April 17, 2024 in Fine Arts, Music Performance, Student.