The Fort Hays State University campus was inundated with the diverse sounds of jazz as the music department’s Jazz I and II ensembles played a 12- song set in their annual Fall Recital last Thursday evening in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center.
The evening began with Jazz II playing a piece arranged by Lennie Niehaus, “Long Ago and Far Away.” The piece featured senior Greg Whisman on baritone saxophone and the trumpets added sharp blasts throughout giving the song a wide variety of sound.
Graduate student Luke Johnson came to the stage and directed the next two songs beginning with “Killer Joe,” a smooth, mellow song written by Bennie Golson that featured sophomore Corey Huggins on trumpet.
“Stolen Moments” by Oliver Nelson was Jazz II’s third song and Johnson’s final as the conductor. Johnson also plays bass in the Jazz I ensemble. The song featured freshman Dustin Jobb on the alto saxophone.
After conductor, Brad Dawson, assistant professor of music, returned to the stage Jazz II played their last song of the night, “Survival Skills” by Mark Taylor. The quick, up-tempo song again featured Jobb as well as senior Skyler Houtz on drums.
Jazz I began with a fast, hard-hitting song by a former classmate of Weaver, Mike Steinel, entitled “Nanu-Nanu.” The song featured graduate student Levi Spicer on alto saxophone.
Chad Foust, a graduate student, captivated the audience with his guitar playing in the next song of the evening entitled “A Samba For All Seasons” by Bill Liston.
Fred Sturm’s “Chronometry” gave Spicer and junior Matt Rome a chance to showcase their talents as they performed an improvised saxophone duet.
The last song before intermission was Jeff Tyzik’s “Oliver” that again featured Spicer as well as junior Stryder Montgomery on drums. Montgomery made the quick, complex rhythm look easy as he performed with a look of complete merriment.
After intermission sophomore Maggie Zody on the baritone saxophone and senior Dayna Ball on piano were featured in another arrangement by Lennie Neihaus entitled “A Foggy Day.”
read more on: http://leader.fhsu.edu/jazz-ensembles-play-fall-concert/
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