Ensemble performs mellow melodies at last concert of the year

UConn's Jazz Ensemble dazzled the audience with seven lively selections of music Tuesday night in von der Mehden Recital Hall.

The evening's jazz ensemble began the night with Thelonious Monk's piece, "Rhythm-a-Ning" which flowed smoothly as the drum kept the piece moving. They went on to play selections from composers such as Duke Ellington, Michael Abene, and a jazz version of Joni Mitchell's pop song, "Big Yellow Taxi."

"I thought Big Yellow Taxi was definitely interesting to hear arranged the way it was tonight," said Gillian Greco, a 6th-semester music education major. "It was definitely different from the pop song everyone has heard on the radio, and it was fun to hear."

The ensemble, directed by Earl McDonald, who is UConn's director of jazz studies, played pieces that featured off-beat rhythms, as well as solos from the trumpet, saxophone, piano and trombone, as well as off-beat rhythms.

"I enjoyed tonight's concert a lot. Jazz is one of my favorite genres to listen to since it makes me feel mellow," said Chelsea Lepus, a 2nd-semester biology major.

All the selections played by the jazz ensemble were arranged by Abene, who also composed three of the pieces. Abene's projects have been Grammy nominees several times, and he is the producer of Grammy winning projects such as "Digital Duke," and "The GRP All-Star Big Band-All Blues." He currently teaches at the Manhattan School of Music.