FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 8, 2002 CONTACT Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119 DRAKE JAZZ ENSEMBLE TO THROW CD RELEASE PARTY Drake University Jazz Ensemble One, under the direction of Andy Classen, will throw a CD release party on Sunday, May 12, to celebrate the release of "Here Be Mainstay USA," the ensemble's third CD. The party will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Mainstay at the northwest corner of 25th Street and Forest Avenue. Admission is $5, or free with the purchase of the new CD at $15. Members of last year's band and this year's band will perform selections from the CD, as well as more recent repertoire. "Here Be Mainstay USA" celebrates the building Drake gave to the jazz program as its home, the Mainstay. This building is used for all jazz rehearsals, classes, combo performances and is being expanded to include a state-of-the-art recording studio. The CD contains a wide variety of big band compositions from Thad Jones, Maria Schneider, Hank Levy and others. Jazz One has had great success in recent years. Last summer, Jazz One toured France, England and Holland for 14 days, culminating with four performances at the internationally acclaimed North Sea Jazz Festival. Only four U.S. college bands were invited to the North Sea Jazz Festival. Last month, 11 members of Jazz One were selected by audition to perform with the Iowa College All-Star Big Band at the Iowa Jazz Championships. Drake had more students selected than any other university in Iowa. Drake President David Maxwell, son of legendary lead trumpet player Jimmy Maxwell, contributed to the CD's liner notes. Jimmy Maxwell followed Harry James as the lead trumpet in the Benny Goodman band and later was the lead trumpet on the "Tonight Show" among other notable accomplishments. In the liner notes, President Maxwell says, "When I hear the [Drake] jazz ensembles playing, I expect to turn around and see my father and his friends playing. I continue to be astonished by the quality of Drake's jazz musicians. The jazz program is one of the jewels in Drake's crown."