Graduating seniors go out on a high note
Interim Chair of the Music and Theatre Department and Music Director Dr. Todd Shiver said that he was proud of the band’s performance despite a last minute sound board glitch.
“I thought it was a very good performance,” Shiver said.
Dr. Robert Wilson, interim chair of the History Department and MC of the Jazz Band for 14 years, praised the performance.
“I think it’s one of the best we’ve done,” Wilson said. “Having really great musicians and singers is not new. But I think that this band is one of the best-balanced bands, in terms of all the sections being strong.”
Wilson praised Shiver’s performance as the director of the Jazz Band.
“This is all attributed to Dr. Shiver, his ability to recruit really good people and then to work with them,” Wilson said.
This was the last Russell performance by three long-time Jazz Band members: vocalist Laura Dees, drummer Monique Williams and trombonist Lauren Lundin. All three have been with the band for four years, a stint for which Laura Dees is notable.
“Usually I’ll have a vocalist for a year, two years at the most. This is the longest I’ve ever had (one),” Shiver said.
But Shiver anticipates little trouble filling the vacant positions.
“I’ve already been contacted by numerous people interested in auditioning and taking that spot,” Shiver said.
But Shiver anticipates little trouble filling the vacant positions.
“I’ve already been contacted by numerous people interested in auditioning and taking that spot,” Shiver said.
The Spring Concert also marked the release of the Jazz Band’s latest CD, Moonglow. It was available for sale at both concerts, for $10 a copy. The CD, the Jazz Band’s third, was recorded in Max Noah Recital Hall under studio conditions.
“I’m really pleased with the way the whole package turned out,” said Shiver. “It’s really a nice keepsake for the kids who were on the CD. It’s a nice way for the audience to take the Jazz Band home with them.”
According to Shiver, funding provided by the Campus Activities Board was crucial to the Jazz Band’s continued success this year.
“The budget that we work on with the bands is less than, not even counting inflation, it was in 1990. And we’ve really been stretched, having to buy music, repair dilapidated equipment and so on. So I went to the Campus Activities Board last year, and they came up with money for us this year,” Shriver said. “And it’s made a huge difference. In return, we haven’t had to charge students for the concerts this year.”
Sophomore economics major Brad Cone, who has been to all of the Jazz Band’s concerts since he arrived at GCSU, lauded the performance.
“They’re always great. They always do a great job,” Cone said. “They always seem to get better, too, somehow.”
His favorite parts, he said, were solos by saxophone player Kyle Christmas, and the song “In The Mood”, the solo by Monique Williams.
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Mar 13 2009. Filed under Features.
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