Fatt Jazz

About the event

Washington State University School of Music proudly presents jazz fusion group Fatt Jazz featuring WSU jazz faculty Brad Ard, Mindy Ard and Dave Snider and special guest Dan Smith.  The concert will be on Wednesday, April 26, 2017, 7:00 PM, in the Kimbrough Music Building room 101 on the WSU campus.  This concert will highlight jazz guitarist Brad Ard, percussionist Mindy Ard, electric bassist Dave Snider and special guest jazz drummer Dan Smith.  Brad Ard and Dave Snider have created special arrangements and compositions for this concert.  Admission is free and open to the public.

Four outstanding musicians will be showcased:  Bradley Ard on jazz guitar, Frederick “Dave” Snider on electric bass; Mindy Ard on percussion and steel drum and special guest Dan Smith on drums.   

This special performance was inspired by the group’s desire to do a contemporary jazz-fusion concert for our music community, showcasing members of Fatt Jazz with special arrangements and compositions for this performance.

Brad Ard’s newest composition Attitude has a John Scofield slow fusion feel and will set the mood for tonight’s concert.  Other charts by Ard include Stock and Trade, an exciting rock chart, Foot Fingers, with a Caribbean feel and featuring Mindy Ard on the steel drum.

Ard has also arranged a few charts for the group to include Come Dancing by Jeff Beck, a heavy progressive/fusion groove with a hypnotic bass line.  Straight No Chaser by Thelonious Monk, is in a different groove with an entire set of new chord changes.  It will definitely blow your mind.  It’s Your Thing, composed by the Isley Brothers, is a 1969 tune that takes on an entirely new groove with a very steady bass line.

Little Wing by Jim Hendrix is the group’s favorite.  Brad’s solo on this chart is always breath taking.

Other charts with input from everyone in the group are Eclypso by Tommy Flanagan, featuring a very solid Salsa groove and the percussion section, and A Night in Tunisia, by Dizzy Gillespie

With a nice Latin feel and twist in the meter, setting up a very exciting swing feel.  These well-known charts that we are performing all have a new twist to them, making them real crowd pleasers.

With Mindy Ard on steel drum, Fatt Jazz has a very distinct and unique sound.  In addition, of course the rest of the band has many exciting solos and grooves that will keep you moving all night.

This concert promises to be a fun and exciting evening of jazz!