By Alexis Spoehr
RIVER FOREST, IL – Concordia University’s Jazz Band had their first concert of the year on November 10th . The jazz band is conducted by Kirk Garrison who is also the History of Jazz Professor. Garrison is part of the Lt. Dan Band featuring Gary Sinise.
The concert started with the band performing “(It’s Just) Talk,” by Pat Metheney and arranged by Bob Curnow. It was upbeat, with a swing feel throughout and three solos throughout the song. The first solo was Trumpet player Mort Kier, the next was Trombone player Bill Gilardon and the last solo in the song was Tenor Saxophone player Cecil Purchase. All three solos had an enormous amount of applause and had most people dancing in their seats to the tune.
The next song, one of the most popular among those who had ever been in jazz band, was “Tribute to the Duke” arranged by Sammy Nestico. This arrangement was inspired by Duke Ellington who was a famous jazz composer who inspired a lot of the greatest jazz composers and players. There was a Trombone solo which was played by Gilardon. The second solo was played by Concordia senior Kevin Zorena on Trumpet. And the last solo, a Tenor Saxophone, was played by Purchase. This song contained some of Ellington’s most famous songs as well as his most played.
The last song of the night was “Bollivia” by Cedar Walton and arranged by Eric Richards. It was was another upbeat tune that contained a Baritone Saxophone solo by Joseph Reineke, a Trumpet solo by Mike Campbell, a Tenor Saxophone solo by Purchase and a Drum solo by Keith Brooks. When the song ended the chapel was filled with applause, which ended the night on a very upbeat and excited note.
By the end of the night the crowd that had attended were in high moods and spoke highly of the band. There was talk of when the next concert would be and if it would be soon. One attendee, Hailey Dobbins, said, “I have been to concerts before because of my roommate last year, but I love coming to them and I am glad that I went this year. I really hope more attend next time.” Will you joinHailey and attend the jazz bands next concert?
