Cameron’s Country/Jazz Fusion welcomes Greg Burgess and Oklahoma Swing

The Cameron University Country/Jazz Fusion concert welcomes Greg Burgess and Oklahoma Swing on Thursday, November 11. Burgess and his ensemble will join the Cameron University Jazz Ensemble and the Lawton Jazz Orchestra for a rousing concert in the University Theatre. The music will start at 7:30 p.m.

The concert is free but a ticket is required for admission. Please make reservations by calling 580-581-2346 or reserve tickets online at https://www.cameron.edu/art-music-and-theatre/events/buy-tickets.

The CU Jazz Ensemble will open the concert with a song made famous by Frank Sinatra, "I've Got You Under My Skin" featuring Mvnte July on vocals. The group will move forward with a fun version of "Girl from Ipanema" featuring Lillie Wright on vocals, then on to "I Remember Clifford," which will feature Owen Ellis on trumpet. After performing "Grease Wheezer" by Oklahoma composer Vince Norman, the ensemble will be joined by Burgess and his group Oklahoma Swing for performances of "Milk Cow Blues" and "Rosetta."

Following a brief intermission, the Lawton Jazz Orchestra will open its portion of the program with "Time for a Change" from the Stan Kenton library. Burgess and Oklahoma Swing will join the ensemble for another swinging set of music including "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" and "Bring it on Down to My House."

Both ensembles are under the direction of Dr. JD Little.

Burgess has been playing guitar and fiddle for more than 40 years. As a child, he cut his teeth on Western Swing under the mentorship of Famous Amos Hedrick (fiddler for Hank Thompson) and other fiddlers including Ace Sewell, Russell O'Neal, Herman Johnson, Dick Barrett, Orville Burns and Merle David. His Western Swing fiddle hero is Keith Coleman.

Burgess was part of the legendary Byron Berline's band for more than 20 years, crediting Berline with his distinct fiddling style.

Winner of the Oklahoma State Fiddle Championship several times and frequently ranked in the top 10 at numerous national fiddle contests, Burgess has recorded and/or shared the stage with musical greats including Hank Thompson, Leon Rausch, Jody Miller, Mel Tillis, Moe Bandy, Billy Walker, Wanda Jackson, Becky Hobbs, Red Stegall, Suzy Bogguss, Asleep at the Wheel, Wade Hayes and others. He is a member of the Western Swing Hall of Fame and is featured in the Folk Life section of the Oklahoma History Center.

Students performing with the Cameron Jazz Ensemble are Jacob Shaffer, Kyle Daugherty and Cynthia Vansant, Cache; Rolen Mayes and Darien King, Duncan; Owen Ellis and Melody Veloz, Elgin; Eddie Clark, Collin Fallon, Reece Henderson, Mvnte July, Hayley Kousman, Damien Shugard, Tavien Todd and Lillie Wright, Lawton; and Irmtraud Bryant, Meers. Additional members are Isaiah Moncrief, Altus; and Derick Daubenspeck, Cache.

Daubenspeck, Ellis, Fallon, King and Little are also members of the Lawton Jazz Orchestra. Additional members are K Kay Alsobrook, Monty Booker, Brian Francis, Pam Francis, Derek Griner, Janette Garton, David Jackson, Michele Jones, Megan Levendosky, Jeremiah Phillips and Lonnie Snodgrass.

This concert is made possible by a generous contribution from Cameron University Lectures and Concerts.

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