Award-winning composer Chuck Iwanusa & the New York City-based Chuck Iwanusa Jazz Orchestra will premiere The Mystic Suite: a 3-movement composition for jazz orchestra. The piece, commissioned by the Statewide Community Regrants Program, is a tribute to his long-time mentor, colleague, and musical soulmate, award-winning Canadian trumpeter/composer Mike Malone. Based on spoken and musical phrases associated with Mr. Malone, each movement of this composition is a musical conversation representing distinctive musicians with whom Mr. Malone has performed.
The Chuck Iwanusa Jazz Orchestra is an all-star ensemble comprised of internationally acclaimed, award-winning New York City musicians. This performance will be the ensemble's first appearance at the Stissing Center for Arts & Culture. Personnel includes:
Woodwinds
Steve Kenyon (Soprano & Alto Saxophones, Piccolo, Flute)
Patrick Cornelius (Soprano & Alto Saxophones, Flute, Alto Flute)
John Lowery (Tenor Saxophone, Flute)
Rob Middleton (Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet)
Carl Maraghi (Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Flute)
Trumpets
Tony Kadleck, Andy Gravish, Jim O’Connor, Ron Horton
Trombones
John Fedchock, Alan Ferber, Scott Reeves, Max Seigel
Rhythm Section
Sebastian Noelle (Guitar)
Allen Farnham (Piano)
Evan Gregor (Acoustic Bass)
Jon Wikan (Drums)
Chuck Iwanusa, the orchestra leader and composer, has received numerous awards, including the prestigious 2021 BMI Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Award, the 2022 Manny Albam Jazz Commission, and several ASCAP Plus Awards. The BMI/New York Jazz Orchestra, the Jazz Gallery Jazz Composers Showcase Jazz Orchestra (New York), the Dave McMurdo Jazz Orchestra (Toronto), the Kazakhstan Jazz Orchestra, and the Jazz Australia Big Band are a few notable ensembles that have performed his compositions.
This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, administered by Arts Mid-Hudson.
