Contact: Maridith Geuder
When the Mark Applebaum Trio takes the stage Tuesday [Sept. 14] at Mississippi State, the performers are hoping for more than a full house for the jazz concert.
In addition to those who'll attend the 7:30 p.m. concert in the university's McComas Theater, the group will play to an anticipated worldwide audience. For jazz aficionados who can't be present, the World Wide Web is providing the next-best viewing opportunity.
Applebaum, assistant professor of music education and trio founder, is working with a variety of campus sources to make the webcast of the group's performance available on the Internet. For the first time, a Mississippi State concert is being telecast live on the web at a special concert site, http://concert.msstate.edu.
Combining jazz standards with original compositions, the concert will open with Harold Arlen's "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and close with Duke Ellington's "C Jam Blues." In between, the trio performs a number of original compositions by pianist Applebaum.
Joining him are Jackson State University associate professor London Branch on contrabass and MSU graduate student Chad Anderson of Starkville on drums. JSU student Darryl Reeves appears as a guest saxophonist.
"We'll be doing a number of jazz standards with roots in '50s hard bop," Applebaum said. "Our music sometimes becomes more experimental, and it's always highly improvisational."
The webcast should be considered "an historic event," said Larry Anderson, MSU technology and education professor, web-telecast coordinator and Chad's father. "For those who can't be on campus, the Internet will allow access that can't replace the concert hall but will make the trio's talents widely accessible."
Formed just over a year ago, the trio has performed widely in Mississippi. A composer and jazz pianist, Applebaum received the 1997 American Music Center's Stephen Albert Award as "the most promising young composer." He also received the 1994 Jazz Prize of the Southern California Jazz Society.
In addition to jazz, he composes solo, chamber, orchestral, choral, electro-acoustic, and electronic works. A CD of his computer music will be released in January on the Innova label.
"Mark is an innovative and talented performer, one perfectly suited to opening the connections between technology and art," Anderson said.
In addition to teaching, London Branch conducts the Jackson State University Symphony Orchestra and is a frequent performer with the Capitol City Stage Band, the Swing Machine and the Jimmy Mullins Big Band, among other groups.
Chad Anderson is a graduate student in the MSU art department's electronic visualization program. Darryl Reeves is a JSU jazz major.
Collaborating on the webcast are the departments of music education, technology and education, communication, and art. Also contributing are the University Television Center and Office of Systems and Networks.
Concert tickets are $5; $3 for MSU faculty, staff and students.
For more information, telephone MSU's music education department at (662) 325-3070.