Jazz ensemble ends with a bang
Ashley Fuquay
Issue date: 4/23/09 Section: Entertainment
Jazz ensemble ended the semester with a concert full of smiles, great music and tears. Over 50 people were in attendance to hear the musical stylings of Jazz Ensemble I.
The first piece the group played was "Back in Blues" by Les Hooper. It had a really big start. The music was loud, confident and fun. The whole song had really good energy. Sam Randles had a very nice guitar solo. Nick Galanos had a great solo as well. It was an excellent way to begin the concert.
The second song played was "Perdido" by Juan Tizol, arranged by Rayburn Wright. The beginning did not sound confident in this song. The sections weren't together all the time like they should have been. Sarah Wnek's trombone solo was good, but it did not have a lot of depth. There was not a lot to Matt Lovelace's piano solo, but Jordan Jobe's drum solo was a lot of fun. The song ended rather abruptly.
The next song was "Body and Soul" by John Green arranged by Will Campbell. Nick Galanos had a very smooth saxophone solo throughout the song. At first the song had an easy listening feel, however, towards the end, it becomes busy and it was hard to discern sounds. It gets a little erratic, but the sounds still fit together alright. Altogether it was a nice piece.
Then the ensemble played "Three and One" by Thad Jones. The piece had a really impressive beginning. It had a bouncy, fun sound. The saxophone solo was really great. To be able to play notes that fast and consistently together.
"Beyond Thursday" by Scott Wendholt arranged by Will Campbell was played next. Saunders was featured throughout the piece. He plays really well in this key. The sound of this piece was really different, it sounded like a cross between a lullaby and a jazz piece. Saunders seemed to tire and not put enough air behind mid range notes.
The group then played "Concerto for Cootie" by Duke Ellington. Soloist Jordan Hilburn was fantastic. His use of mutes on his trumpet was great. It had a really fun swing beat. Everyone had a really good sound in this song.
Director Greg Ball started tearing up when taking time out to honor his graduating seniors. These students were Matt Lovelace on piano, Jordan Jobe on drums, Cody Knott on trombone and Clay Nelson on bass.
The last piece on the program was "Libertango" by Astor Piazzolla arranged by Fred Sturm. It was the perfect ending to a great concert. The song was expertly played, and the ending was no hold bars.
For more information about the Tarleton Jazz Ensembles, visit www.tarleton.edu/~finearts.
The first piece the group played was "Back in Blues" by Les Hooper. It had a really big start. The music was loud, confident and fun. The whole song had really good energy. Sam Randles had a very nice guitar solo. Nick Galanos had a great solo as well. It was an excellent way to begin the concert.
The second song played was "Perdido" by Juan Tizol, arranged by Rayburn Wright. The beginning did not sound confident in this song. The sections weren't together all the time like they should have been. Sarah Wnek's trombone solo was good, but it did not have a lot of depth. There was not a lot to Matt Lovelace's piano solo, but Jordan Jobe's drum solo was a lot of fun. The song ended rather abruptly.
The next song was "Body and Soul" by John Green arranged by Will Campbell. Nick Galanos had a very smooth saxophone solo throughout the song. At first the song had an easy listening feel, however, towards the end, it becomes busy and it was hard to discern sounds. It gets a little erratic, but the sounds still fit together alright. Altogether it was a nice piece.
Then the ensemble played "Three and One" by Thad Jones. The piece had a really impressive beginning. It had a bouncy, fun sound. The saxophone solo was really great. To be able to play notes that fast and consistently together.
"Beyond Thursday" by Scott Wendholt arranged by Will Campbell was played next. Saunders was featured throughout the piece. He plays really well in this key. The sound of this piece was really different, it sounded like a cross between a lullaby and a jazz piece. Saunders seemed to tire and not put enough air behind mid range notes.
The group then played "Concerto for Cootie" by Duke Ellington. Soloist Jordan Hilburn was fantastic. His use of mutes on his trumpet was great. It had a really fun swing beat. Everyone had a really good sound in this song.
Director Greg Ball started tearing up when taking time out to honor his graduating seniors. These students were Matt Lovelace on piano, Jordan Jobe on drums, Cody Knott on trombone and Clay Nelson on bass.
The last piece on the program was "Libertango" by Astor Piazzolla arranged by Fred Sturm. It was the perfect ending to a great concert. The song was expertly played, and the ending was no hold bars.
For more information about the Tarleton Jazz Ensembles, visit www.tarleton.edu/~finearts.
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