Swinging in the season

    It was the old time swing time of rhythm and blues that gave the audience a treat to remember when the renowned GCSU Jazz Band performed to a packed Russell Auditorium on March 6 and 7.
    The annual Spring concert included new additions to the Jazz Band including a new quartet named “Two O’Clock Jazz Band” appropriately named for the time the group practiced. The vocal quartet included seniors Amy Eller, Sydney Cash, Jeremy Skidmore and Robert Valentine.
    As usual, the beloved jazz concert was attended by students, faculty and community members alike.
    The popularity of the jazz band is evident by the number of community members in the audience.
    Dr. Bob Wilson, GCSU historian and long time emcee of the jazz band concerts, is not at all surprised with the attendance and constant support of community members.
    “It’s the kind of music that a lot of these older community members grew up with and enjoy,” Wilson said. “They are a huge part of the success that has followed the jazz band.”
    It was a night of swing combining vivacious and romantic music inspired by oldies but goodies such as swing king Benny Goodman, Peggy Lee, Jimmy Dorsey and Gene Krupa among others.
    Jazz crooner Laura Dees, a junior musical performance major, has been singing for the jazz band since her freshman year and has become a familiar face with the jazz band.
    “I enjoy performing this kind of music very much,” Dees said. “Performing with talented musicians and singing songs that truly mean something has opened doors for me and made my experience here at GCSU that much better.”
    Dees performed a cover of highly infused “marimba rhythm” inspired song “Sway” that was recently revived by famous swing and jazz crooner Michael Bublé.
    “Sway” was originally a mambo song recorded by Mexican crooner Pablo Ruiz, and later popularized by Dean Martin in the English version.
    Sydney Cash, a senior music major and another jazz band songstress, also entertained the audience with songs made popular by greats such as Natalie Cole and her song “L-O-V-E.”
    The jazz band’s crowning moments really relied on the solos performed by the seniors that were highlighted for the performances.
    Senior music education major Corey Tanner was featured on trombone performing the beautiful ballad “Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most.”
    “It was a privilege and an honor to play with such a group of talented musicians,” Tanner said. “I’ve made a lot of memories and friends while I was here, and I really am gonna miss this when I leave after college.”
    Philip Gubser, also a senior music major, performed a mesmerizingly up beat piece, “Clarinade.”
    “The reason why the jazz band is so good is because not only are the musicians in it talented, they also put a lot of their hearts into it,” Gubser said. “The audience can feel that when we perform.”

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Mar 14 2008. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry