USF Faculty Jazztet: Birth of The Cool

On Thursday, September 17 at 7:30 p.m., the University of South Florida School of Music Faculty Jazztet will present a special live recreation of the landmark recording Birth of the Cool. The performance will be in the Zinober Concert Hall on campus. Originally recorded in 1949-1950 under the leadership of Miles Davis and Gil Evans, Birth of the Cool introduced a new, more nuanced sound to jazz-blending inventive arrangements, rich instrumentation, and a relaxed, lyrical approach that helped define what would become known as "cool jazz." The groundbreaking recordings featured a distinctive nonet with expanded instrumentation-including French horn and tuba-and sophisticated writing by composers and arrangers such as Gil Evans, Gerry Mulligan, and John Lewis. In this special concert, the USF Faculty Jazztet will bring these classic arrangements to life, drawing inspiration from the original nonet sessions while celebrating the artistry and innovation that made the album legendary.