UA Jazz Ensemble and Alabama Cavaliers Present Annual Reunion Concert

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.—The University of Alabama Jazz Ensemble and the Alabama Cavaliers are teaming up for a swinging good time at their annual reunion concert on Saturday, May 31 at 7:30 p.m. in the Moody Music concert hall.

The Alabama Cavaliers is an alumni group for the award winning University Jazz Ensemble directed by Chris Kozak, director of jazz studies. Although the Cavaliers are sprinkled across the country, they make efforts to raise money for jazz ensemble scholarships and stay in touch throughout the year through emails and newsletters. Merle Lemley, a UA alum and pianist in the Cavaliers, said it was a fluke that she became a part of the jazz ensemble in 1992.

“I already had my masters in education and went back to the university to go into music therapy and sort of ended up in the jazz room,” Lemley said. “And I’ve been in it ever since.”

The Cavaliers originated in the 1930s and was well known around campus for playing big band dances in Foster Auditorium. Now the highlight for the group is the one night only reunion concert, which has been held at the Moody Music Building for the past 15 years. The Cavaliers will travel to Tuscaloosa on Friday and meet on campus to select the pieces that will be played at the concert. They will spend the majority of their time practicing on Friday and Saturday morning.

Audience members can expect an old-school big band sound and feel with traditional jazz and vocals speckled throughout the performance, which will be directed by Mart Avant. A part of the stage will be left open for impromptu dancing by audience members. The concert is free and open to the public.