The Baylor University Concert Jazz Ensemble Directed By Alex Parker

The date was December 8th, 2017, I had the pleasure of seeing the Saddleback College Jazz Combos perform at the McKinney Theater. The theater is quite large holding about 100~200 seats but seemed to offer a good acoustic balance for the combos that played. Also, one can tell that it was the holiday season by just entering the theater. It was festive as it was decorated with christmas trees with christmas lights and the front was filled with light up flower vases. Furthermore, this concert is a cumulation of different jazz students put into small groups and perform in front of an audience. This concert also showcases their efforts as a group as well as differences in skill level amongst the combos.

On November 17th, 2016, I attended a jazz concert and had quite a time. The experience was captivating, and gave me a warm feeling inside. There were three different bands that play in the hour slot, and all of them sounded magnificent, but “The Santé Fe Jazz Combo” and “Santa Fe Big Band” stood out the most. The only thing these two bands have in common is that some of the musicians play in both bands. Otherwise, these jazz fanatics are polar opposites.

I attended a Jazz Recital presented by faculty on March 9th 2016 in Marlboro Hall 1076. The recital was performed by Bobby Muncy, Gene D’Andrea, Shaun Jurek, Andrew Hare and Dr. Nakia Verner. The group performed the following songs, Donna Lee composed by Charlie Parker, Wave composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim, Misty composed by Erroll Garner, Another Song(For All The Pretty People) and Impressions composed by John Coltrane. In my essay I will discuss Impressions composed by John Coltrane.

The date of the concert was October 5, 2016 and the title of the concert is “Experimental Improvisation with: Kjell Nordeson & Peter Kuhn”. The concert was performed in Mesa College Music building. Peter Kuhn had three instruments with him a bass clarinet, saxophone, and a Bb Clarinet. He used the bass clarinet and the saxophone during his first piece, and the clarinet on the second piece. Kjell Nordeson was on the drum but had a lot of instruments with him. Sometimes he would play the drums as a drums set but sometimes he would put some sort of objects on top of the drum to create different sound effects. He also had a small glockenspiel and a flexatone. The concert hall was very simple, had a

The University of Alabama Faculty Jazz Band along with guest player, Bill Peterson the jazz pianist, made up a chamber ensemble and performed beautiful and upbeat jazz music. The faculty members include Tom Wolfe, the guitarist, Chris Kozak, the bass player, and Mark Lanter, the drummer. The entire concert was played in a major key and had nothing but positive energy. The pieces and players were extremely creative and they managed to tell a story and create beautiful imageries through the changing sounds, rhythms, melodies, keys and texture.

On April 11th, 2017 in the Louis Armstrong Theatre, I attended the GVSU “University Band”. This up-beat ensemble lasted about 90 minutes; the talented students of GVSU’s university band joined together to perform multiple different songs ranging from a Waltz to a Dixieland Jamboree. All of the songs that the band played for the audience were all well-known, popular songs that they all enjoyed. Having the opportunity to attend this concert has opened new musical paths for myself and has allowed me to enjoy and kindly critique something that I perhaps would have never had the chance to otherwise.

On February 21, 2016 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM I attended, “Follow the Drinking Gourd,” by Jonathon McNair at Rudder Theatre. The Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra, the Marian Anderson String Quartet, and special guest narrator Greg Wise preformed three pieces. These pieces include, “Lyric for Strings,” “Follow the Drinking Gourd,” and, “Symphony Number 1.” The Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra consists of Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Harp, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Bass Trombone, Tuba, Percussion, Timpani, and Keyboard. The Marian Anderson String Quartet uses two violinists, viola, and cello.

On November 18, 2015, I attended a UAB concert involving jazz combos and a guitar ensemble. This concert was filled with amazing musicians, intricate solos, and thick harmonies. There were three jazz combos and one guitar ensemble; the first set was the guitar ensemble, which contained four guitarists and one bass player. The ensemble consisted of four songs: “Swing It,” a swing-style song; “Samba #1”; “A Child is Born,” a waltz; and “Bill’s Bay.” The main theme of “Bill’s Bay” was very catchy and memorable, and the ensemble’s most impressive player to me was Michael Galanti on the bass guitar. His solos involved precise pizzicato and quick movement that I have never witnessed in a bass player.

On Friday, May 18, I attended the Burrell High School Jazz Band Concert. Over the concert, a band played for the first half, there were then chamber groups that played in between, the second band next, and then a combined band with alumni. I felt that the structure of the concert flowed nicely, as the chamber music in between was refreshing from the jazz. My favorite chamber piece was an African piece involving bongos and soprano saxophone.

I chose to attend a jazz concert at UNCW on September 28th, 2016. The musicians playing were: Jerald Shynett on trombone, Andy Whittington on piano, Natalie Boeyink on bass, Justin Hoke on guitar and Michael D’Angelo on drums. There were two special guests playing with this ensemble: Lynn Grissett on trumpet and Ryan Mulder on saxophone (joined them on stage for only a few select pieces).

I attended a Senior Recital performed by Travis Hogue-Smith. This concert took place at Barry University’s chapel on March 28, 2017 at 7:30 PM. The instruments used in this concert are a clarinet, played by Travis Hogue-Smith, and a piano, play Dr. Beverly Coulter. Music from both Romantic and Classical genres were played in this concert.

This week, on February 27, I visited the Latin Jazz Ensemble concert at Sacramento State University. It was my first time at a jazz concert in Sacramento. The jazz ensembles performed seven pieces during the concert with twelve different instruments. “Mama Cool Beans”, “Keeper for the Flame”, “Next Exit”, and “Plena Con Sabor” were four different and unique pieces which I liked and I think these compositions inspired the audience.

The University of Texas at Austin Jazz Combos Recital occurred on Monday, April 24, 2017 at 7:30 PM at the Recital Studio in the MRH Building. There were two bands that performed, Konrad Plays Klarinet and The Gin and Pentatonics. Konrad Plays Klarinet instrumentation was made up of a clarinetist, guitarist, alto saxophonist, two trombone players, a trumpet player, two pianists that alternated between songs, bass players and a drummer. The Gin and Pentatonics instrumentation was made up of a trumpet player, flugel horn player, tenor saxophonist, trombone player, guitarist, two pianists that alternated between songs, bass player, and a drummer. Before this recital, I had never heard a keytar before, a keytar is electronic keyboard that is similar to a

The mystery of Jazz and its powerful impact on the music community can be explained largely by the context of it’s creation. Jazz was born in the United States, and because of this, many have referred to Jazz as “America’s music.” Like America, Jazz has a balance between structure and spontaneity. It capitalizes on the fluidity of the musicians, having several different instruments with independent spirits, coming together as one to form a great piece of music. Unlike other styles of music, Jazz has a certain way about it that makes it stand-alone in the world of genres. It improvises, moves, and transforms itself in a moment’s notice based on the musician’s intuition. Just as America harbors democracy, so too does a jazz ensemble, showing both the responsibility to a larger group, yet still allowing room for individual freedom. It all comes down to how well others can respect the overall framework and structure of the jingle.

Phoenix high school would like to introduce the Jazz Band, which will be performing not too long from now. It will be held on May 25th, 2016 the performance will begin at 6:30 PM in the Phoenix High School Commons. Some suggestions by parents of the students were, to get there early because those good seats get filled. This concert is being done to highlight all of the high level of music the students are working on. Directed by Mike DeRoest, much time has been put into the music that will be played at the concert. Anyone is allowed to come to the concert, it is free and any age person can go to watch. Many styles of Jazz will be played including, Swing, Bee-Bop, Latin, Rock and many more. “With a band of 13 members these students are going