NCCU Ensembles: Newport Jazz Festival 2009

09newportThe men’s basketball team at North Carolina Central University doesn’t quite compete on the same level of its powerful ACC neighbors — Duke, UNC, NC State. Its jazz program, however, can boast of a history of top-notch talent. In 2005, NCCU welcomed the entire Branford Marsalis quartet to Durham, N.C. as artists-in-residence.

In helping put together the Marsalis Music stage at this year’s Newport jazz festivities, label founder Branford Marsalis returned the favor to NCCU. Director of Jazz Studies Ira Wiggins will take both a big band and a small group to Rhode Island this year.

Click here to listen to the NCCU Big Band Featuring Branford Marsalis and the Jazz Combo at Newport.

Set List (Combo)

“Master of the Groid”
“Confirmation”
“Speak Low”
“Blue & Green”
“So Many Moons”

Set List (Big Band)

“Big Bad Band”
“Hard Times”
“Little Chicago Fire”
“Sound For Sore Ears”
“57th Street Mambo”
“Train Connections”
“March Majestic”
“Giant Steps”
“Straight, No Chaser”