DANBURY, CONN. — The Western Connecticut State University Department of Music will present Oktoberfest Jazz featuring Frankensax, with Andrew Beals conducting; the WCSU Jazz Ensemble, with Newtown's Jimmy Greene conducting; and the WCSU Jazz Orchestra, with Jamie Begian conducting, at 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31, in the Veronica Hagman Concert Hall of the Visual and Performing Arts Center on the university’s Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury.
Frankensax will perform Charlie Parker’s “Bongo Beep,” John Coltrane’s “Central Park West” and Benny Harris’ “Crazeology.” The Jazz Ensemble will perform Phil Wilson’s “Basically Blues,” Cedar Walton’s “Ojos de Rojo” arranged by Bob Washut, and Duke Ellington’s “V.I.P.’s Boogie.” The Jazz Orchestra will perform “Groove Merchant,” featuring WCSU students Emma Sayles, Mike McGinley, Greg LaPine and Mike Schmidt; Fran Foster’s “Shiny Stockings,” featuring Matt Volpe on trumpet and Rose Minkler on piano; and Thad Jones’ “Cherry Juice.”