Shorter Stories
Origin Story
In the summer of 2022, Christopher Merz completed 8 fresh arrangements for septet based on compositions by Wayne Shorter for a faculty recital at The University of Northern Iowa, were he has taught since 2000. The project was partially inspired by a visit to UNI from composer arranger John Beasley, whose Monk'estra similarly tackles the music of Thelonious Monk. Since that time, new arrangements were added by Merz and bandmates Jon Ailabouni and Mike Conrad to create a widely varied book that honors the source material while bringing fresh rhythmic and harmonic perspectives.
Vision
The band’s repertoire focuses on the pre-Weather Report part of Shorter’s career, including compositions recorded by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers and Miles Davis’s second great quintet, as well Shorter’s first 8 albums on Blue Note. The arrangers explore alternate grooves, meters, harmonies and moods to reimagine these pieces to fit the band’s lineup and their own personal vision. Those familiar with the original recordings will find these re-imaginings familiar yet provocative, while those new to Mr. Shorter’s music will find plenty of variety in the arrangements and improvisations.
Christopher Merz
Leader, Saxophone, Arranger
Christopher Merz’s recording debut came in 1993 with the release of Art Gecko (B&W Music), recorded in Durban, South Africa with South African musicians Feya Faku, Lex Futshane, Melvin Peters and Vince Pavitt. In 1997, he assembled a 12-piece ensemble to record Mystery is My Story (independent) featuring 6 extended original compositions. About that recording, Dave Brubeck hailed it as “…a grand extension of what we were doing…when we were the ‘new thing.’” Jack Bowers of AlllAboutJazz.com called that release “…as euphoric as scaling a mountain.” Other recording credits include duo albums with jazz education icon Bob Washut (Gemini) and New York pianist Jon Snell (Vuja Dé). Merz's current quartet, Christopher’s Very Happy. Band, has recorded two albums of his original compositions: We Are Bathed in Sunlight (Realtown! Records, 2015) and While We Wait (SkyDeck, 2019). He is also a charter member of the Iowa Jazz Composers’ Orchestra and the soul jazz sextet, Big Fun, led by Iowa guitarist Steve Grismore.
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Shorter Stories is a labor of love for Merz, celebrating the compositions of one of the most important composers in jazz history.
Jon Ailabouni
Trumpet, Arranger
Palestinian-American trumpeter, composer, and educator, Jon Ailabouni (he/his) serves as an Assistant Teaching Professor at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse where he teaches the trumpet studio, Music Appreciation courses, and directs the Jazz Ensemble and Hoefer Brass Quintet. Ailabouni’s background is steeped in Western European classical music and Black American music traditions including the blues, modern jazz, and free improvisation. Jon's creative work focuses on instrumental composition and improvisation that uses emotion and story as focal points for expression. Ailabouni's improvisation as a soloist has been described as "sharp and resourceful" (AllAboutJazz.com). Recent creative projects include his debut album of original music entitled You Are Not Alone (SkyDeck Music, 2023) and the publication of The Spirit is Moving: A Jazz Liturgy of Renewal (2024). Ailabouni can be heard performing regularly with Chris Merz and Shorter Stories including on the album New Juju, Mike Conrad and the Iowa Jazz Composer’s Orchestra including on the album The Fertile Soil Suite, Isthmus Brass, and the La Crosse Jazz Orchestra. He is a frequent clinician and guest artist including recent appearances at the Jazz Education Network Conference, Tallcorn Jazz Festival at the University of Northern Iowa and the Southern Arkansas University Jazz Festival.
Anthony Williams
Trombone
Dr. Anthony Williams is Associate Professor of Trombone at the University of Northern Iowa. He maintains a high frequency of performing in classical, jazz,and new music settings. His debut solo album, Synthesis, is a collection of five newly-commissioned works for solo trombone scored with various ensemble settings featuring influences from classical, Latin, and jazz styles. Other recent projects include Dr. Williams performing as lead trombonist with the Mike Waldrop Big Band on recently released albums, Origin Suite and Time Within Itself. Additional recording credits include Grosso for Trombone and Electronics for Mexican-born composer Jorge Sosa’s album, Plastic Time, and albums by UNI alums Ryan Middagh and Dave Lisik. Upcoming projects include recording as soloist on Itty-Bitty Blues Opera by David Peoples.
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He is principal trombonist of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony and
performs regularly with other orchestras in the region. His current jazz and commercial music performance activity includes regular appearances with local and regional groups such as The Iowa Jazz Composers Orchestra, Max Wellman Big Band, Orquesta Alto Maiz, Shorter Stories, NOLA Jazz Band, Big Fun, and many others. Williams’ past experiences include engagements with the Memphis Symphony, Memphis Jazz Orchestra, Ray Charles Orchestra,
Arkansas Symphony, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Natalie Cole, and Aretha Franklin.
Dr. Williams earned degrees from the University of Central Arkansas (BM),University of Northern Iowa (MM), and the University of Memphis (DMA).
Bob Dunn
Guitar
Robert Dunn taught classical and jazz guitar at the UNI School of Music for over 41 years. Upon his retirement, the Bob Dunn Jazz Guitar Scholarship was established. He remains on the faculty of the UNI Suzuki School, teaching classical guitar. He taught
classical, jazz, and bass guitar at Grinnell College for 42 years. He also taught at Wartburg, Coe, and Clarke Colleges. Dunn received both BA and MM from UNI and has been affiliated with the school as student or teacher since 1979. He also earned a BS from Iowa State in 1976.
Dunn has taught at the UNI, Simpson, SWCC, and Independence summer jazz camps and UNI Amp Camp. He has been an adjudicator or clinician at various jazz contests, including UNI Tallcorn, Coe Jazz Summit, NEIBA, SEIBA, and Des Moines Hoover
festivals.
He has performed on electric guitar, electric bass, steel string acoustic, 12 string, classical guitar, banjo, mandolin, and ukulele with UNI faculty group Shorter Stories, jazz quintet Hands of Time, chamber jazz group Extra Añejo, traditional jazz group Cedar Saints, Jazz by Two, classic rock band Brass Transit Authority, rock-blues band Deja Blue, Cawley-Dunn flute and classical guitar duo, Nick George Trio as well as the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Wartburg, and Des Moines symphony orchestras.
He has played in the pit ensembles for Annie, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Copacabana, 42nd Street, Chicago, Guys and Dolls, Just Ann, The Suffragist, Rent, Hair, Considering Matthew Shepard, and Cabaret.
Robert and his wife Denise reside with their three cats in Waterloo.
Mike Conrad
Piano, Arranger
Mike Conrad is a composer and improviser currently serving as Associate Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of Northern Iowa. His compositions have earned him four ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Awards, a SONIC Award from ISJAC, the 2023 Sammy Nestico Award, and many other accolades. His wide-ranging creative projects include the All Angles Orchestra (New Angle), a collaboration with Berlin-based “Stegreif” (Free Eroica), the Iowa Jazz Composers Orchestra (Fertile Soil Suite), and two jazz trio albums of original music (Reconnect and Pretzel Letters). He is in high demand as a jazz pianist/trombonist and as a clinician and guest director for jazz ensembles.
Dave Altemeier
Bass
Dave holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music with a Bass emphasis and Jazz Studies Minor from the University of Northern Iowa. While there he was a member of Jazz Band One for four years and principal bassist in the Northern Iowa Symphony Orchestra. He has taught for more than two decades in central Iowa and performed throughout the Midwest with a wide variety of jazz, RnB and blues ensembles.
Josh Hakanson
Drums
Josh Hakanson is a musician and educator based in Cedar Falls, IA. On drum set, Hakanson has played professionally in the Northwest and Midwest in a range of musical styles, encompassing jazz, rock, hip-hop, and fusion. As a student and professional performer, he has had the privilege to share the stage with such musicians as Bobby Shew, Adam Kolker, Luis Bonilla, John Fedchock, Jennifer Wharton, Benny Green, John Wojciechowski, Steve Owen, Idit Shner, Joe Manis, Bob Washut, Chris Merz, Mike Conrad, Anthony Williams, Dave Rezek, and many others. As an educator, he has taught private lessons to all ages, coached large and small jazz ensembles at the collegiate and high school levels, and conducted music clinics at the middle and high school level. He is currently a member of the percussion faculty at Wartburg College in Waverly, IA, where he directs the Knightliters Jazz Band and the Wartburg Percussion Ensemble.