Saxophonist Fred Lipsius of Blood, Sweat & Tears fame to perform with Fairfield University Jazz Ensemble

Saxophonist Fred Lipsius of Blood, Sweat & Tears fame to perform with Fairfield University Jazz Ensemble

Fred Lipsius, the award-winning saxophonist best known as a member of the 1960s' rock 'n roll/jazz band Blood, Sweat & Tears, performs with the Fairfield University Jazz Ensemble, Friday, April 26 at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. Showtimes are 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Lipsius will accompany the Jazz Ensemble on several original student compositions, including "Warming Up a Dream," by senior Larry Valliere and "Night," by graduate student Eric Donnelly. The program also features original compositions by Lipsius and Jazz Ensemble director Brian Torff. "We're honored to be working with Fred Lipsius, whose brilliant arrangements helped Blood, Sweat & Tears become the premier jazz/rock band of its day," said Torff, a renowned bassist and composer who is also the university's Music Program Director. "Blood, Sweat, and Tears set an impeccable musical standard that is still inspiring today. For me, they will never be out of style."

Blood, Sweat & Tears blew audiences away in 1967 with a unique blend of rock 'n roll and jazz that was part throwback to the days of the Big Band and part tribute to the psychedelic music of the '60s. Between 1967 and 1971, Lipsius, a featured soloist on saxophone and piano, won nine gold records. He also earned a Grammy Award for his arrangement of "Spinning Wheel"; arranged the hit single "Hi-De-Ho"; and co-arranged another hit single, "You've Made Me So Very Happy."

Lipsius toured Europe and Japan with Simon and Garfunkel in 1982 as part of a nine-piece backup band. Two years later, he became an assistant professor at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he continues to teach. Lipsius has written five books on jazz improvisation. He produced, arranged and is featured as alto saxophone on two compact discs, "Dreaming of Your Love" and "Better Believe It." His compositions for commercial television include the CBS logos "Something's In the Air" and "It's a Whole New Thing."

Tickets for the performance are $8 for general admission and $5 for students. For information or tickets, call the Quick Center Box Office at (203) 254-4010 or 1-877-ARTS-396 or visit the website, www.quickcenter.com.

Posted On: 03-15-2002 09:03 AM

Volume: 34 Number: 198