We are now safely back in the states after a long day of travel on little or no sleep. The flight home was smooth for the most part, although we had a very tight connection in Paris. We were relieved when we arrived in Chicago and all of our luggage was waiting for us. We had a wonderful, but exhausting two days in Rome, and we were all anxious to get home to our friends, families, and our own beds!
I want everyone one to know how well these students handled themselves in Italy. Not only did they perform at a consistently professional level, but also they represented Bradley University and the state of Illinois with class and enthusiasm. I could not be more proud of them. This was my third trip overseas with a group from Bradley University, and I can say with confidence that I have never traveled with a better group of people. As I reflect on the past ten days, there were a few glitches, including a bus driver who was constantly lost and refused to take directions, sound checks that started late, a couple of “interesting” hotels, sax stands that are still sitting in the Milan airport, and all of the other little hassles that invariably accompany international travel. But all of that will be forgotten. We will remember the wonderful performances, beautiful Italian landscape, great food, the hospitality of the Italian people, and most of all, the way that we came together to represent our school and to perform at the highest level.
Thanks to all of you for following our adventures in this blog. We enjoyed sharing them with you. Finally, my heartfelt thanks to the students in the Bradley Jazz Ensemble — working and traveling with all of you is one of the great joys of my life, and I’m already looking forward to our next trip in 2012.
There is no rest for the wicked, and unfortunately, no rest for the tired either. We arrived in the ancient city and immediately went for a tour of the Vatican. Our tour guide led us through the seemingly infinite exhibits and collections, blowing off ancient statues and Salvador Dali originals like they were commonplace.
But the historical background and context she prepared us with paid off when we came to the final leg of the tour…the Raphael chambers and the Sistine Chapel. The former included incredible frescos and poignant scenes, while the latter was breathtaking due to the sheer scope of the work. Completed in the late 15th century, the chapel contains epic depictions of religious motifs and scenes completed by Michelangelo.
After exiting the chapel, we went into St. Peter’s Basilica, the second largest church in the world. Erected by Constantine, the building is as stunning as it is vast, and we could have easily spent the better part of an afternoon perusing the paintings, mosaics, and sculptures.
Popping the Question at the Fountain
That evening, we toured some must-see sights in the city, including the Spanish Steps, Piazza de Novano, and the Pantheon. The highlight of the evening, however, was definitely the Trevi Fountain. When we reached the sparkling fountain, band member Mark Dempsey led his unsuspecting girlfriend and saxophone player, Jessica Fulco, down the steps to the water’s edge. After presenting her with roses, he went down on one knee and proposed to the delight of hundreds of spectators. And guess what? Jessica said yes!
We spent our last day in Rome wandering the streets and sightseeing. Souvenir shopping was a must, as was seeing the Colosseum and Forum. After an exhausting day, we will spend our final evening on the trip with a group dinner to celebrate such an incredible experience.
Although it is hard to believe that this trip is almost over, it is even harder to believe that my career as a Bradley Jazz Ensemble member is over. I’m sure all the seniors would agree that this is quite a nice way to celebrate the end of our collegiate music careers and that performing with the jazz ensemble anywhere is an honor and a privilege. From standing at the ruins of an ancient Roman city to making music under the stars overlooking the valleys of Umbria, this trip has been full of experiences that don’t come often, and for that I am sure the entire band is grateful. Ciao!
From Brian “Styx” Spicklemire ‘09 and Christopher Pennant ‘10
Waking up in Perugia a few days ago was bittersweet. We were looking forward to our last performance, but were wary that it might not match the energy and crowd we experienced at Umbria. Still, after seeing such incredible performances from musicians such as John Patitucci, Roy Haynes, and the Charles Mingus Dynasty a day earlier, we were excited to be playing music again.
We made the hour or so drive from Perugia into the small town of Soriano nel Cimino, in Viterbo. After arriving and checking into our hotel, we had some time to look around and check out the local scene. We had a chance to look over our stage for the night, proudly located in a small square in the middle of the city. After our great performance a few days earlier in Valdarno, we were all looking forward to performing for the townspeople.
That night, we hit the stage with all the energy and emotion that comes from a group that knows it’s playing together for the last time. The band was burning, and the townspeople really responded to our performance. It was especially memorable for the group’s seniors: Erik Christian Juhl , Jeremy Bell, Bekah Aavang, Steve Levin, and Andrew Vickers.
However, the night was only beginning.
A Jazz Musician’s Dream
Minutes after we cleared the stage, the semifinal competition began for the Jimmy Woode International Jazz Competition. Both groups featured strong vocalists and were comprised of native Italians, but save for a touch of an accent, both vocalists could have been singing in any American jazz lounge. The combos put on memorable performances, but the Essential Feeling Quintet edged out A Thea Crudi for a trip to the finals. After some celebrating and congratulations, we all gathered our instruments and headed to that night’s jam session, held in a somewhat eerie, cavernous space.
The next two hours were a jazz musician’s dream. Doc broke out his horn for only the third time the whole trip, but you could tell by his expression he had been waiting for a moment like this. More members of the group joined in, and by the end of the night, it seemed like everyone in the ensemble had left their particular mark on the night’s session. We talked to members of Essential Feeling until three in the morning. We picked up a Tuscia in Jazz Festival t-shirt and sang some Sam Cooke for Maria, our concert manager. The crowds and performances in Umbria were electric, but the personal interaction of Soriano made it the highlight of our trip.
Our final two days in Perugia flew by. After a wonderful afternoon yesterday exploring the festival, we gave our last performance Saturday to a huge crowd. It was by far our best performance of the tour and a memorable experience for all of us. After the gig, we scurried to the main stage for a packed concert featuring James Taylor. I initially doubted including Taylor as a headliner at a jazz festival, but after standing in the front row for two encores, I changed my mind!
Yesterday the band finally had the chance to catch up on a little sleep before heading to an afternoon wine tasting near Assisi. The family-owned-and-operated vineyard has probably been around longer than the band members’ ages combined. We began with a tour of the facility, learning the intricacies of wine production before sitting for the tasting. After swirling, sniffing, and sipping our way through some delicious wine and munching on some wonderful, homemade appetizers, it was time to head out for the final evening of the Umbria Jazz Festival.
Once we made our way through the crowd, we finally arrived at our first destination — a family-style dinner with pasta, salad, meats, wine, and tiramisu. With full bellies, we rushed over to the main event for the night - a B.B. King concert. Our “artist” badges that identified us as performers through the last three days doubled as a ticket for the event, allowing us to stand on the side of the main floor by the paid ticket holders. The crowd was enthusiastic and energetic, and the concert by the jazz legend proved to be a memorable end to our Perugian experience.
This morning we are leaving this incredibly vibrant city to head to the Tuscia Jazz Festival where we will open for the two semi-finalists for the Jimmy Woode Award. Tonight will mark our final performance on the tour, and I’m sure it will be memorable. Tomorrow, we’re off to Rome!
After our intimate performance outside of Siena last night, we finally had a morning off to explore this beautiful medieval city. Most band members were able to explore the breathtaking Duomo…a gorgeous collage of Roman and Gothic architecture. Just down the road, the Piazza del Campo, best known for hosting the Palio horse race twice a year, houses several cafes and vendors. After some sightseeing, the band traveled to the Tuscany-Valdarno Jazz Festival.
Following our sound check, the band traveled to a traditional Italian restaurant for a wonderful dinner of pasta and pizza. While trying to order in a foreign language can be a challenge elsewhere, lucky for us it’s pretty difficult to mess up ordering pizza.
With full stomachs, we made our way back to the square where a crowd had started gathering for the concert. After a wonderful encore performance and greetings from excited new fans, we headed home to rest up for the next leg of our journey.
Encores in Perugia
The first day in Perugia was incredible. The Umbria Jazz Festival takes the entire hilltop over, changing the ancient city into an intricate system of stages, vendors, and excited crowds. The stage was a great location, and the cheers we received during our sound check made everyone very excited for the concert later. Our performance tonight was definitely the highlight of the trip so far. A large crowd gathered, and we went on to play several encores before it was over.
Following this performance, we had the rest of the evening to enjoy the festival as spectators. George Benson was featured on the main stage, a concert we could attend for free with our performer passes. Tomorrow promises to be even more exciting with yet another performance by the band and an evening concert featuring James Taylor!
While it seemed that our first day of traveling would never end, waking up in Italy was a nice treat for the jazz ensemble. Getting up early in Lake Como after the night of our first performance, we boarded a bus to Sienna. After the “run-around” of the previous day, many of us took this opportunity to catch up on some much-needed sleep, but those that stayed awake viewed the beautiful Tuscan countryside as we made our way to Florence’s rival city.
After we pulled into the hotel, we had a short time to rest and change, and then it was back on the bus to our gig that night in the city of Serre Maggio. After bussing as far into the city as possible, we walked through the town on the way to the night’s venue, the Giardino degli Ortali.
The backdrop for our performance was spectacular - a cozy Tuscan castle that was over a thousand years old, with olive trees scattered throughout the
landscape. Following a brief sound check, we were treated to dinner by our hosts for the evening and dined on authentic Italian fare.
Our performance that night was memorable. The audience was excited to hear our “Tribute to Frank Sinatra” set. We were especially thrilled to have retired Senator Al D’Amatto (R - NY) attend the performance with his family.
Following the concert, we walked back to our bus through the city, which looked completely different under the stars and yellow-tinged Italian lights. Our hosts took great care to show us how all of the buildings were inner connected in the medieval architectural style, and the view was breath-taking.
Today we have some time to explore the city of Sienna, and then tonight we’re off to perform at the Tuscany-Valdarno Jazz Festival. Since I performed there with our group in 2006, I’m really looking forward to tonight’s performance. The energy of the crowd and the hospitality of the townspeople make it a great gig for the group. We’re excited for tonight, and getting ready for Perugia and the Umbria Jazz fest tomorrow.
Greetings from Paris! As we flew east from Chicago, the sun set far faster than normal. When it rose, we were landing in the midst of a busy Tuesday morning at Charles De Gualle Airport. The plane ride was short (in international terms) and full of excitement. First-time travelers marveled at the TV screens located in the back of each seat on the plane and then ooh-ed and aah-ed over the fresh ink on their passports, all the while trying to picture the scene in a few short hours when we are due to begin our first concert at Lake Como in Italy.
I’ve been lucky enough to travel abroad with Bradley before, but to come to Europe as a musician brings an excitement all its own. There are no classes to take, only pictures…no notes to write, only to play. We have the opportunity to represent the University in a way words cannot, and for that I am sure we are all grateful.
After a far too long layover, we finally made it to Lake Como. A quick run to a local bakery provided dinner, followed by delicious gelato for dessert, which we enjoyed sitting on the shore of the gorgeous lake. We rushed to our sound check to find that the stage for our first concert was nestled right on the edge of the ancient lake.
After sound check, we rushed to our hotel, a fifteen-minute drive up in the mountains. Words can hardly describe the feeling when your tour bus attempts to make hairpin turns that even the miniature European cars dare not attempt. Half an hour later, we were back down to the stage for our 9:30 p.m. concert. The crowd was already bustling when we pulled up, and the masses stayed through the entire two-hour long performance, dancing and singing along.
Despite the exhaustion from a long day of traveling, the band had a great evening. Tonight, we catch up on some much-needed rest, and in the morning, we move on to Siena!
This summer marks the third time that the Bradley Jazz Ensemble has had the opportunity to travel to Europe for performances at summer jazz festivals. This year, we return to Italy, making our way from Milan to Rome. Our performances will range from small venues in Tuscany, to center stage at one of the world’s greatest jazz festivals. Although jazz is a uniquely American art form, it has found its home in Europe, and we are always received with warmth, enthusiasm and respect.
Our six concerts will take place at Lake Como, Siena, Valdarno, Perugia, and Verteribo. We will also spend two days in Rome, where the students will have the opportunity to see the sights of one of the world’s greatest cities. Musically, the highlight of the trip will be our two performances at the Umbria Jazz Festival in the Medieval town of Perugia. There, we will perform for thousands of people on an outdoor stage at the Piazza IV Novembre, Perugia’s historic town square. After our performances, we will attend concerts by George Benson, James Taylor, and B.B. King.
The members of the group are:
Saxophones: Doug Stewart, Mark Hildebrand, Russell Zehr, Jessica Fulco, and Dustin Ahrends
Trumpets: Cody Fiedler, Steve Levin, Bekah Aavang, Cheryl Rodey, and Ben Clark
Trombones: Chris Pennant, Kevin Kelley, Mark Dempsey, and Andrew Vickers
Rhythm section: Jeremy Bell, Erik Juhl, and Brian “Styx” Spicklemire
After three long days of rehearsals, the band is sounding great! I am very proud of the students, and eager to show them off on the international stage. We are boarding a plane in Chicago on Monday afternoon, and will take an overnight flight to Milan where our adventures will begin. We are thrilled to have this opportunity, and we look forward to sharing our adventures with everyone back home. Arrivederci!
We are now safely back in the states after a long day of travel on little or no sleep. The flight home was smooth for the most part, although we had a very tight connection in Paris. We were relieved when we arrived in Chicago and all of our luggage was waiting for us. We had a wonderful, but exhausting two days in Rome, and we were all anxious to get home to our friends, families, and our own beds!
This summer marks the third time that the Bradley Jazz Ensemble has had the opportunity to travel to Europe for performances at summer jazz festivals. This year, we return to Italy, making our way from Milan to Rome. Our performances will range from small venues in Tuscany, to center stage at one of the world’s greatest jazz festivals. Although jazz is a uniquely American art form, it has found its home in Europe, and we are always received with warmth, enthusiasm and respect.