One Jazzy Night

By: Laura Cofrancesco

            Frostburg State University’s fall Jazz Concert was held on Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 8 P.M.
            It was a beautiful winter night, with snow sprinkling the landscape and the surrounding mountains. Very few people were out wandering the crystallized sidewalks of Frostburg University.
            Regardless of the weather, there was a huge turnout for the concert.  Everyone who was not cuddled up in their room with the heat on was at the jazz concert Wednesday night. Inside Pealer Recital Hall, students and parents alike were bundled up in hats and gloves, chatting excitedly in their chairs. Once the lights were dimmed, there was a hush over the crowd, and the first notes from a piano could be heard. Director Timothy Powell led the jazz ensemble into the upbeat song “Doxy”, and then a beautiful “How High the Moon” followed. Junior Rebecca Singh says, “I’m not really into jazz music, but this concert changed my mind.” Many of the songs that were played had solos. Almost every member of the jazz band had a chance to wow the crowd with their amazing music abilities. A few of the soloists were Senior Jacki Skeweris on the piano, Bill Green on the saxophone, and Joe Carter on the trombone.
            The jazz band consisted of saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section with a piano, bass, drums, and guitar.
            After the jazz band played a few songs, the Vocal Jazz Ensemble, led by Director Karen Soderberg, entered the stage. Their first piece was a classic entitled “Blackbird”, a song by former Beatles John Lennon and Paul McCartney. This song had nearly everyone dancing in their seats to the beat. The vocal group’s last piece was a more fast-paced modern version of “Carol of the Bells”. “Utterly amazing!” says David Lee of the performance, “I know the song and I liked their interpretation of it!”
            The Vocal Jazz Ensemble had only eight members consisting of sopranos, altos, tenors, and bass’. Even though they were a small group, they did not cease to amaze everyone in the recital hall.
            The jazz ensemble came back on stage and finished the fall concert with tunes like “Two Seconds to Midnight” and “New Toys”, with a solo including saxophonist Bill Green.
            As the concert ended, everyone reluctantly exited the recital hall to mingle in the lobby. Students and musicians chatted together, delaying leaving the building as the snow was still coming down. The jazz concert failed to disappoint. One member of the FSU Jazz Ensemble, Michael Bean, says he has been playing the trumpet since the sixth grade. He says he continues to play because of his “love of jazz, the ability to free-form.” Bean’s favorite song of the night was “Two Seconds to Midnight” by Alan Baylock. He says “it was really cool; the melody was fast but not too funky!”
            The jazz concert for the FSU Jazz Ensemble and Vocal Jazz Ensemble was held by the Department of Music in the Performing Arts Center, and was free to the public.


For more events at Frostburg University, please visit
http://www.frostburg.edu/events/index.cfm