Bob Sebo hadn’t heard of the Four Freshmen jazz group before he first saw them perform on campus during his freshman year in 1955. But ever since then, this University Board of Trustees member has been hooked on their smooth sounds and willingly dubs himself an official “Four Freshmen groupie.”
He remembers being “blown away” by the group’s abilities back then and remains amazed at them now–even through 22 member changes.
It’s because of the impact that the newly-emerging quartet made on his life, that Sebo is sponsoring the now nationally acclaimed group’s return to BGSU tomorrow for a series of clinics with jazz music students and an evening concert open to the public.
BGSU’s Jazz Lab Band will start tomorrow’s event at 7:30 p.m. with the Four Freshmen taking the stage at 8 p.m. in the Union Ballroom.
Tickets for the public are $25 and any unsold seats will be free to students, with a student ID, the evening of the show. Interested students should wait in the seating area by the Union theatre, near the south entrance of the ballroom where tickets will be distributed five minutes before the Four Freshmen begin performing.
Tickets for the public will also be sold at the door. As of yesterday afternoon, more than 100 tickets had been sold for the event, and organizers expect a rush the day of the show, said Deborah Fleitz, director of Public Events and Development in the College of Musical Arts.
The event is part of this year’s Jazz Week at BGSU and also serves as part of a monthlong celebration of Building Dreams: The Centennial Campaign at the University.
The Four Freshmen consists of Bob Ferreira, the “senior” member of the group at 34, who serves as leader and drummer; Vince Johnson singing baritone and playing bass, guitar and trombone; Brain Eichenberger, who plays bass, guitar and keyboard and newest member Curtis Calderon who sings harmony and plays trumpet and flugelhorn.
The original Four Freshmen formed at Butler University in 1948 and received national attention when Big Band leader Stan Kenton discovered and promoted them.
Audience members Wednesday should expect to be amazed, Sebo said.
“It’s a unique harmony that you can’t help but be in awe,” he said. “I particularly enjoy their upbeat stuff. They play a lot of jazz that just rolls along.”
Though Sebo said he understands that jazz may not be the music of choice for many students today, he hopes they’ll give it a try anyway.
“All I’m doing is saying ‘here’s something that is great,'” he said. “My thought on it is ‘try this, you’ll probably like it.'”
Editor’s Note: To purchase tickets call the College of Musical Arts Box Office at: 372-8171 or 1-800-589-2224.
