Fred Sturm, director
In May of 2007, the Lawrence University Jazz Ensemble's long standing reputation as one of America's finest collegiate jazz groups was reaffirmed by earning DownBeat Magazine's Outstanding Collegiate Big Band Performance Award for the third time in the past two decades. LUJE members have repeatedly been cited for the Best Original Composition/Extended Composition Award, Best Jazz Arrangement Award, and Outstanding Jazz Instrumental Solo Performance Award. Under the direction of Fred Sturm, LUJE performs and records frequently throughout the school year, presenting cutting edge large ensemble literature, historically significant works, Lawrence student and faculty compositions and arrangements, and accompanying visiting jazz solo artists (see Jazz Celebration Weekend 2009 link for list of guest artists).
Recent Repertoire
• New Works by Lawrence Jazz Students (compositions and arrangements for large jazz ensemble)
• Earthworks II: A World Music Celebration (improvisation-based folk and ethnic music)
• The Jazz Century: Celebrating 100 Years of Jazz History
• Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn: Nutcracker Suite
• Gil Evans (arranger) Porgy and Bess (complete score as recorded by Miles Davis)
• Gil Evans (arranger) Miles Ahead (complete score as recorded by Miles Davis)
• The Big Band Works of Benny Golson
• Lars Jansson Temenos (original compositions for large jazz ensemble)
• Maria Schneider Hang Gliding, Three Romances, Aires de Lando, and Sky Blue
• Kenny Wheeler Now and Now Again, Sea Lady, W.W., and We Salute the Night
• John Hollenbeck The Bird with the Coppery, Keen Claws
• Ingrid Jensen/arr. Fred Sturm At Sea
• Fred Sturm Bodacious Cowboys: 3 Decades of Steely Dan
• Fred Sturm Tango Nuevo: The Music of Astor Piazzolla
• Jim McNeeley Ernie Banks (world premiere)
• Tim Reis & Matt Harris The Rolling Stones Project
For more information, go to the Jazz and Improvisational Music page
