Jazz livens up von der Mehden

The smooth sounds of jazz filled von der Mehden recital hall Monday in a showcase presented by the Department of Music. Six different jazz ensembles, all the products of different jazz classes offered by the department, performed an assortment of old and new jazz for a small audience that swayed along to the beat the entire performance.

The Department of Music puts on a showcase for each ensemble near the beginning of every semester to give those interested a look at what the classes are working on. According to Bill Reynolds, one of the ensemble directors, the showcase may or may not be themed. This semester's performance was not themed; rather, it was a tribute to all forms of jazz, from the big bands of the 1930s to modern jazz pieces, including one arranged by Tia Fuller, saxophonist for Beyoncé Knowles.

Earl MacDonald, the director of jazz studies at UConn, introduced the showcase as "an incentive to practice" for the students involved. All the students are members of one of several jazz ensemble classes, and each ensemble has a director. Reynolds, who directed the ensemble "Combo 4," said each group had at least one organized rehearsal a week, and then the students would get together to rehearse on their own.

"It's tough because they're so busy," he said.

Despite a messy start, the performance certainly showcased the students' practice and talents. The Jazz Lab Band played first, performing "Mopti" by John Cherry and arranged by the band's director, John Mastroianni. A performance of Gordon Goodwin's "Sing, Sang, Sung" followed. "Mopti" had a rough start and seemed like a product of the band's nerves rather than the hard work put into rehearsals for the past several weeks. "Sing, Sang, Sung," however, was a better representation of the practice and talent the students combined to put together the show.

The Jazz Scholars followed the Lab Band with a rendition of Charlie Parker's "Anthropology." The Lab Band was a full ensemble with about 20 musicians, but the Scholars were composed of only five. The choice to play "Anthropology" arose from the Scholars' exploration of rhythm for this semester. Each musician soloed during the arrangement, giving each a chance to show off his mastery of rhythm.

The next two ensembles were also small in size. Combo 4, the only group with a jazz guitar, performed the two Swing-era songs - the smooth and seductive "Moonglow" by Hudson, Mills and Delange and "Stompin' at the Savoy," a chart-topper from 1934 by Razaf, Goodman, Webb and Sampson. Combo 3 played "Queen of Swords" by Mark Larosa, a piece with an emphatic bass line, and "Satin Doll", by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, and arranged by Combo 3's director, Kenny Davis. During "Satin Doll", the musicians would turn to their peers who were soloing, watching as the audience did.

"I liked hearing my peers," said Matt Begué, a 4th semester mathematics major who played trumpet for the Jazz Lab Band and the Jazz Scholars. "I could tell everyone was having fun."

The showcase ended with performances by the UConn Jazz Ensemble and Combo 1. The Ensemble played "Come Sunday," a seductive tune reminiscent of a lazy Sunday morning, composed by Duke Ellington. They also played "The Old 23-12," written by Michael Abene, whom the Ensemble focused on all semester. Combo 1 wrapped up the show, playing the romantic "Tenderly" by Walter Gross and Jack Lawrence, and ending with Tia Fuller's "Gullyism," a modern touch to the showcase.

The audience was impressed with the majority of the show.

"It was long," said Reed Immer, a 4th semester communication sciences major. "The last two ensembles were the strongest. But they definitely achieved something musically."