GCSU Jazz Band celebrates work of Macon lyricist
Jenna Watkins, a new vocalist to the band, accompanies the Jazz Band during thier first concert of the the school year.
The GCSU Jazz Band played their first concert of the school year in Russell Auditorium on Nov. 4-5.
The concert was also the first since the departure of Todd Shiver, the university’s former Director of Bands. Until the national search for Dr. Shiver’s replacement is complete, adjunct professor and trumpet instructor Chris Probst is directing the Jazz Band.
“When he accepted the position in Washington, Dr. Shiver asked me if I would be willing to work with the jazz band and take them to the Czech Republic this May,” Probst said.
There were at least two other new faces on the stage—the Jazz Band’s two new vocalists, Erlencia Mumphrey and Jenna Watkins.
Dr. Bob Wilson, a professor of history and the concert’s emcee, complimented both performers.
“I feel that this year’s vocalists are particularly strong, and they’ve done very good jobs,” Wilson said.
Probst praised the band for its performance.
“I thought they sounded fantastic! It’s always great to play for a receptive audience and the band fed off of their energy and performed really well,” he said.
Most of the music played at the concert was related to renowned jazz lyricist Johnny Mercer, a Savannah native. Mercer, who won four Oscars for his work on movie songs, would have celebrated his 100th birthday last November. Wilson, who showed a television documentary of Mercer’s life before the band came on stage, called the concert a belated celebration of Mercer’s talent.
The concert opened with instrumental performances of “Blues in the Night” and “Autumn Leaves”. After a few songs, though, the concert took a slight turn when Probst led the band in a sight-reading of “The Looking Glass,” an instrumental piece by Matt Harris.
A sight-reading, said Probst, is a musical performance in which the performers have not seen the music beforehand. Probst coached the band through the piece onstage, after which the band performed the piece, to the acclaim of the audience. “The Looking Glass” may be one of the pieces that the band plays in its spring concert, according to Probst.
Mumphrey and Watkins performed five pieces total. Each vocalist performed two solo pieces. A duet on Mercer’s song “Tangerine” rounded out their contribution to the evening.
To finish the concert, the band performed three instrumental songs. Each of the pieces, such as Arturo Sandoval’s “Sandunga,” had a Latin American influence. Director Probst, who studied trumpet under Sandoval himself, played a trumpet part during the performance of “Sandunga”.
Senior biology major Melanie Wooten said that Probst’s performance, and “Sandunga” in general, was definitely her favorite part of the concert. Wooten also complimented the choice of music.
“I liked how this (concert) had those Latin-inspired tunes toward the end, whereas others seemed to be more of what you hear normally when you think of big band music,” Wooten said.
The very final performance of the night was a solo piano rendition of Mercer’s classic “Moon River” by the band’s pianist, Milton Brown.
“I loved that they ended with ‘Moon River,’” Woote said. “It’s one of my favorites.”
“I enjoy sharing what I’ve learned about jazz with the band, exposing them to new music and styles, and then hearing them play some pretty challenging music at a professional level,” Probst said. “The band loves to play to a packed house. Come out and support your fellow students and listen to what an amazing group of musicians they are. If you like good music, you should definitely hear this band.”
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