Compass was organized and based from 1969 through 1973 in Oneonta where the group performed primarily in concert settings at colleges and universities, mostly in New York State. Compass performances feature both original compositions, standards as well the works of many of Americas greatest jazz legends.
Fast Facts:
- Compass was 1 of 5 musical groups on a promotional program that opened the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in 1972.
- Compass coordinated a 2006 concert series in Upstate NY during the period extending from Sunday, August 6th through Saturday August 12th.
- Compass celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2011 and with no personnel changes!
The quartet is made-up of:
Rick Lawn [saxophones], Joel Chace [keyboard], Tom Ives [bass] and Albert Colone[drums].
Lawn, a graduate of the Eastman School of Music, has had a stellar career in music teaching that has taken him from the University of Northern Iowa, to being Director of Jazz Studies at both the University of Texas and now at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia where he is also Dean of the College of Performing Arts.
Chace, a native of Walton, currently teaches English at the Kent Place School in New Providence, NJ. Joel is a widely published poet and information about his work can be easily found by “Googling” him.
Colone runs a sport consulting business from Oneonta, his home town where he founded the International Soccer Hall of Fame.
Ives, a graduate of Potsdam’s Crane School of Music, recently retired as a music teacher from Cooperstown CS. Before his tenure at Cooperstown, he produced successful music programs at both Cherry Valley CS and at Draper CS. He and his wife Lorraine are founders of Cherry Valley Designs, producing hand made candles, Shalker furniture, and beautifully loomed quilts and such.
Discography
The band self produced an album entitled, “Compass Rises” in 1973 that featured original compositions written and arranged by Lawn and Ives. Issued independently on the Schoolhouse Records label with liner notes by drummer Bill Lavornia, this LP has of course been out of print for years. There has not been a year go by since around 2000 that a collector hasn’t contacted one of us about acquiring a copy of the vintage LP. There were only 500 pressed by Rite Records in 1973, but between the 4 of us we’ve always been able to come up with one or two we kept as a memento. Requests have come from as far away to the East Coast as Alaska and the UK. After all these years, and still playing together mostly over the summer months, we’ve decided to make this collectors item available for only $9.99. We are now officially out of LPs so the only alternative for collectors is this mp3 version of the original recording. You may purchase the entire album here as an mp3 download.
Buy this recording for $9.99
Takes you to my secure Kagi Store
WHAT IS MAN?
Bassist Tom Ives, with reed man Rick Lawn, composed and arranged What is Man?,” an ecumenical jazz service that features jazz quartet, church organ, chorus, a baritone soloist (Job) and a narrator with projections reinforcing the text. The cantata is about one hour long. It was premiered in New York City and later produced for television by Iowa Public Broadcasting. A revival of “What is Man?” is planned in the near future. email Rick Lawn if interested.
Listen to the jazz cantata “What is Man?” produced for television by IPBN, John Beyer Producer/Director. The piece can be rented or purchased and performed by your own musicians, rented with rehearsal/production support provided by Tom Ives & Rick Lawn, or Compass will produce the cantata at your location with your vocalists. Email Rick Lawn for details and pricing.
Listen to the entire cantata
PART I
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
PART II
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
PART III
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
View excerpts from the IPBN broadcast presented by the University of Northern Iowa School with Rick Lawn on woodwinds