Indy Jazz Fest: A Look Back (2001)
A high water mark was the performance of Dr. David
Baker's almost neo-classical tribute to Duke Ellington's work --
Ellingtones -- that was carried off with a very sensitive confidence
by the 80-member Indianapolis Philharmonic, under Baker's direction.
Guest soloist, the legendary James Moody on tenor sax, was very eloquent
with his cutting-edge sound as it soared through, over and around
the cushion of strings and brass. Pianist Luke Gillespie turned in
a wonderful performance throughout.
- review, Chuck Workman, NUVO magazine
»Back to Top
The Minnesota Bunny Just Piano Festival (1999)
The
performance series also includes the Bunny Just piano festival,
featuring pianist Luke Gillespie who does double duty in jazz and
classical. "Most
musicians either play jazz or classical, but this guy's like Wynton
Marsalis, he's proficient at both," says Dale Haeffner (piano
faculty at Minnesota State University-Mankato).
- reporter, Joe Tougas, Free Press online
»Back to Top
"You are a dream to play
in duo with! As well, your heavy level of musicality seeps through
into every area of the music. Hope to hit again soon!"
- Ingrid Jensen,
trumpet
International Trumpet Guild 2001
Conference Performance with Eddie Severn
(May 26, 2001, Shanklin
Theatre, University of Evansville)
Eddie Severn chose to devote the time allotted to him to perform rather
than lecture. As a result the audience was treated to nearly ninety
minutes of superb jazz playing. Severn received excellent support
from Luke Gillespie-piano; Jason Tiemann-drums; and Tyrone Wheeler-bass.
- reporter, Jim Donaldson
»Back to Top
PERFORMANCES WITH THE BUSELLI-WALLARAB JAZZ ORCHESTRA
"Carmichael Program Pleases"
An unaccompanied solo by pianist Luke Gillespie stood
out for novelty in a program loaded with novelty. He spun out a mesmerizing
version of "Georgia on My Mind," with a restless, obsessive
accompaniment figure recalling a middle-period Beethoven piano sonata.
At the fringes of his performance, he tucked in hints of "The
Nearness of You," "Stardust" and "Lazy Bones," all
without ostentation or fanfare. The full band is a tough outfit to
steal the show from, but Gillespie came close.
- Jay Harvey, Indianapolis Star, Oct 7, 2002
"Orchestra's tribute to Hoosier jazz artists has
the right mix"
Spanking into life its series of concerts at the Indiana
Historical Society, the Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra displayed
an expert command of big-band midwifery Sunday afternoon in a concert
titled Jazz Born in Indiana. It did so by focusing on Indiana's jazz
notables -- from the world-famous names of J.J. Johnson, Freddie
Hubbard and Wes Montgomery to such well-established regional figures
as Dominic Spera, Steve Allee and Al Cobine. The Hoosier tribute
was furthered by the inclusion of a song each by Cole Porter and
Hoagy Carmichael, Indiana's most important songwriters. Pianist Luke
Gillespie's tribute to the mentor of so many -- Indiana University
director of jazz studies David Baker -- was among the most imaginative
arrangements presented: "DaNaBar" is a percussionless tone
poem with a long unaccompanied solo by Gillespie and some lovely
reed colors.
- Jay Harvey, Indianapolis Star, Nov 12, 2001
»Back to Top
|
