Two WMU jazz CDs among "year's best"
June 20, 2002
KALAMAZOO -- A columnist for a jazz music journal has selected two jazz CDs released by Western Michigan University students as among the 'Blue Chip' releases of 2001.
Writing for a recent issue of the "Jazz Education Journal," Dr. Herb Wong, a noted jazz historian, critic and author, chose the two WMU releases as among the Top Campus CDs of the year. The CDs are "Cosmosis" by the WMU Jazz Orchestra and "While We're Young" by Gold Company. The Jazz Orchestra is directed by Trent Kynaston and Richard Holland, while Gold Company is directed by Stephen Zegree.
The two CDs are among nine selections in the category. WMU was the only school in Michigan to have a CD on the list and one of two schools to have more than one CD chosen.
This is the seventh annual edition for Wong's Blue Chip Jazz CD Awards. Wong says in the column that despite an uncertain economy, 2001 was an especially good year for jazz releases.
The "Jazz Educators Journal" is the official publication of the International Association of Jazz Educators.
Media contact: Mark Schwerin, 269 387-8400, mark.schwerin@wmich.edu