Sunnyside Avenue

Description

Here are six young musicians who have dedicated themselves to the study and performance of jazz. All are accomplished improvisers in modern jazz, yet when they play pre-bop styles they are able to capture the phrasing, melodic content and feeling of the traditional jazz, including New Orleans collective improvisation.

As one of their teachers, I have witnessed a significant transition from students to well-rounded young professional musicians. In my 35 years of leading student traditional jazz bands, the team of Jory Woodis, Austie Robinson, and Brian Woodbury are the most creative and authentic “front line” of any incarnations of the BYU Jazz legacy Band. I congratulate them on their first self-initiated and self-produced CD.

Steve Call, PhD Professor of Music Brigham Young University.

There are a few things that I know for sure. One, no matter our station in life, we all experience unhappiness. For some the moments may be fleeting; others may be troubled for days, weeks, or years. Though the length or depth may vary, we’ve all been there; we’ve all felt it.

I also know there are few mediums which have greater power to uplift and extract us from those unhappy moments than music.

Lastly, I know it is nearly impossible to hear well-played traditional jazz (what some call “dixieland”) without being filled with joy. Wherever you are, however you are feeling, we hope you can pop in this album and be transported with us to a place we call Sunnyside Avenue. No matter where you start, we hope that you will finish with a smile.

Jory Woodis, Band member