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MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (April 5, 2006) — Three local jazz legends, East Tennessee’s “Statesmen of Jazz,” will join the Milligan College Jazz Ensemble to present its spring concert on Monday, April 24, at 7:30 p.m. in Seeger Chapel on the Milligan campus.
The 21-piece jazz ensemble is under the direction of Rick Simerly, Milligan associate professor of music.
East Tennessee’s “Statesmen of Jazz” include local musicians; Jimmy Fleenor on clarinet, Bill Gamble playing saxophone, and Charles Goodwin performing on the piano.
“These musicians are the “statesmen of jazz” for our region,” said Simerly. “Through their performances and collaborations with nationally recognized jazz artists, they are largely responsible for the early exposure of jazz in our region and the proliferation of this musical genre throughout this area. We are indeed honored to feature them on our spring concert and give them the recognition that they deserve.”
The concert will feature selections from the libraries of Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Count Basie, Tito Puente, Horace Silver and Sonny Rollins. Featured soloists with the Milligan jazz ensemble are: saxophonists Daniel Lockhart, Dick Davis and Danny Williams; trombonist Luke Rogers; trumpeters Kelly Scollin, Jason Bailey and Kevin White; guitarist David Clay; pianist Mark Thie; bassists Andrew Roberson and Brett Darnell; and drummer Eddie Dalton.
“The concert will feature each of our special guests on solo selections of their choice and we will put them together for the final number of the evening, Count Basie’s “One O’Clock Jump,” said Simerly. “As long as I can remember, jazz has always had an audience and somewhat of a following in this region. These “statesmen of jazz” were some of the first musicians to secure that following. Each one has an unbelievably impressive resume. Hearing them perform will be a real treat for everyone.”
Jimmy Fleenor , known for over 50 years as “Mr. Jazz,” joined the first William King High School Band in 1940, knowing he wanted to play the clarinet. In 1944 he took his horn to the Navy, playing with various groups. During his college years, Fleenor formed a quintet called “The Moonliters,” performing in the Raleigh-Durham, N.C. area. He returned home to Abingdon, Va., where he formed the jazz group called “The Highland Quintet,” which has been performing for more than 40 years throughout East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia and Western North Carolina.
Fleenor has faithfully and tirelessly carried the torch for the preservation, appreciation and continued exposure to true jazz music. Among his many musical idols and influences are jazz greats Pee Wee Russell, Edmond Hall, Irving Fazola, Ben Webster, Kenny Davern and Zoot Sims.
The fifth annual Highlands Jazz Festival was dedicated to Jimmy Fleenor and held in his honor.
Bill Gamble is an established Kingsport attorney who for many years has been listed in “The Best Lawyers in America.” He has also been prominent as a musician for over 60 years. Gamble began playing clarinet in the Chattanooga public school system at 10 years of age and added saxophone to his arsenal during high school. Although his musical activities have been quite varied, from circuses to symphonies, he developed a strong interest in jazz during World War II as a member of a Navy jazz band, which led to a lifelong dedication to performing jazz.
Prior to relocating to Kingsport, Gamble played in top bands based in Chattanooga and Nashville. Since his arrival to the Tri-Cities, he has played local engagements with a number of nationally prominent dance bands and for such performers as Bob Hope, Red Skelton, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Floyd Kramer, Frankie Vallee, B.J. Thomas and others. For several years he performed in big band sessions at the Triangle Jazz Festival. His own dance band, “After Six,” was prominent throughout this area for over 35 years.
Since 1953 Gamble has written and narrated multiple history of jazz lectures, including presentations at several colleges and universities throughout Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. In 1968 he initiated, underwrote and produced a series of nearly 200 jazz programs in Kingsport known as “Jazz at the Fine Arts Center,” in which he also served as master of ceremonies. This series presented hundreds of Tennessee and Virginia musicians, plus many nationally known figures such as Buddy Morrow, Billy Taylor, Urbie Green, Buddy Rich, Maynard Ferguson and the Duke Ellington Orchestra. The series earned him a Certificate of Appreciation from the Tennessee Fine Arts Commission.
Charles Goodwin is a native of Bristol, Tennessee. He graduated from Tennessee High School in 1949 and went on to study piano under Dr. Clifford Loomis at Sullins College, which was located in Bristol, Tenn., until 1977. He later studied under Dr. Ralph Ostoff of Virginia Intermont College and also attended East Tennessee State University.
G oodwin has toured extensively with the Glenn Miller Band, the Tommy Dorsey Band, Nelson Riddle, Guy Lombardo, Sammy Kaye, Buddy Morrow, Les and Larry Elgart, Ray McKinley and the late Charlie Spivak Orchestra, as well as Frank Sinatra, Jr. He has performed on numerous occasions with comedians Red Skelton and Bob Hope, as well as singers Patti Page, Ray Eberle, Bob Eberly, Carroll Lawrence, Anita Bryant and Johnny Ray. Goodwin has written arrangements for the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, the Glenn Miller Orchestra under Ray McKinley, as well as several arrangements for the Charlie Spivak Orchestra which were used on Spivak’s Grammy nominated album, “What’s Cooking Charlie?”
Goodwin has arranged for and led his own big band since 1965 and remains in constant demand throughout the region. His band has performed concerts with the Kingsport Symphony and the Western Piedmont Symphony. Throughout the last year Goodwin has toured 20 states with the “Southern Fried Jazz Band” based in Charlotte, N.C.
The Milligan College spring jazz concert is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Milligan College music department at 423.461.8723. You may also contact Rick Simerly at 423.461.8939, or RSimerly@milligan.edu.