Luther College Jazz Band to present fall concert Nov. 21

The Luther College Jazz Band under the direction of Tom Bourcier will perform a concert Friday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the Main Hall of the Center for Faith and Life on the campus of Luther College.

The concert is open to the public with no charge for admission.

The Jazz Band will feature contemporary arrangements of two classic Duke Ellington songs, “Take the ‘A’ Train” and “Caravan.” They will also feature “Some Skunk Funk” by Rand Becker, “Back to Basie” by Mike Pendowski and “Lullaby of Birdland” by George Shearing. Other modern jazz composers represented on the program are bassist Charles Mingus and Miles Davis.

Bourcier is an instructor of music at Luther, where he teaches improvisation, directs the Jazz Band, and serves as a composer and accompanist for the Luther theatre/dance department. 

He has performed across the United States, Europe and the Caribbean in varying musical genres including jazz, classical, rock, folk and blues, avant-garde and improvisational.  He is currently a member of the Bourcier, Julin and Wolff trio, performing original compositions in jazz, tango, and folk and blues styles. 

Luther College is home to one of the largest collegiate music programs in the world with seven choirs, three orchestras, three bands, two jazz bands and nearly 1,000 student musicians. Luther students perform in large ensembles, faculty-coached chamber groups, private lessons and master classes. More than 350 music majors study music theory, ear training, history, education, composition, church music and performance.