The University is world-renowned for its jazz culture and is often regarded as one of the leading jazz education institutions in the United States. This reputation was on full display with Tuesday night’s student jazz combo performance.
Throughout the concert, the audience was moved to multiple ovations by three distinct jazz groups. Their enjoyment, coupled with intricate jazz pieces, solidified the known esteem around the program.
A jazz combo is a small ensemble of usually 3-8 musicians and generally consists of rhythm, bass and melodic sections. Another defining trait of the groups is their ability to deviate from music, often improvising certain solos or melodies to adapt to audience preferences.
The choice of concert venue for this event was not a mistake. The Studio Theatre is one of the smallest theaters at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and allows the audience to commune with the artists in a way that larger venues would simply not allow. Ellnora Krannert, the main donor to the performing arts center, insisted on a smaller performance space to provide a hub where artists could be more experimental with their work.
The experimental atmosphere allowed the performers on Tuesday to be brave with their compositions. This groundbreaking jazz work is further heightened by the creative direction of Charles (Chip) McNeill, a Grammy award-winning artist and the chair of jazz performance at the University.
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McNeill has performed with Frank Sinatra and Dizzy Gillespie and now translates his knowledge to the preservation and educational advancement of jazz.
“I’ve worked with these students for hours on these pieces,” McNeill said in his pre-performance speech. “And have great pride in introducing them tonight.”
The first of three student combos, “Chip McNeill Combo,” played two original works, one of which was titled “Road Ahead.” The beginning of this composition started with somber bass and piano, before quickly progressing into a hopeful and lively tune.
Beautiful piano runs almost floated in the air in the second half and were lifted by standout acts from the alto saxophone and trumpet performers. Throughout the performance, the audience gave their input by clapping and cheering when a section or solo was done particularly well.
The third performance from the “Joel Spencer Combo” brought lively energy from the bandmates and implemented the unique feature of a guitar to give an almost beachy feel to their performance. The combo also incorporated a glockenspiel and referred to the instrument multiple times for poignant solos.
Jasmine Doyle, freshman in FAA who also plays saxophone, was in attendance and gave her thoughts on the performance.
“I have friends in the last combo,” Doyle said. “I saw them play at the Union, and they have really improved since the last performance.”
Among the audience, many students were there to show support and learn about the art. For the span of the two-hour performance, the collective listening experience allowed each individual to be drawn closer to the complex and beautiful art of jazz.
“Go to jazz concerts,” Doyle said. “They are amazing and you won’t regret it.”
