The Champaign-Urbana Jazz Festival made its way into downtown Champaign on Saturday, where jazz artist Alex Massa and his ensemble performed “WATER MUSIC” at Gallery Art Bar. Inspired by the Dakota Access Pipeline protests in 2016, Massa used each piece to represent a pivotal moment during the fight for global water rights.
Coming back for its 11th year, the CU Jazz Festival continued to highlight small and rising artists, offering tributes, experimentation and good music. Running from Oct. 16-19, the festival extended free show opportunities to both students and C-U citizens alike. During his performance, Massa took the opportunity to speak up about the global water crisis through his set.
“I knew that I wanted to focus on water, and when I was watching the Dakota Access protest in 2016, it kind of cemented the idea that global water rights were under attack and that the water crisis affects all of us regardless of class status, race and ethnicity,” Massa said.
With its ambient lighting and intimate stage arrangement, the Art Bar set up a relaxing atmosphere for Champaign residents like Ian Curry, who enjoyed the performance.
“I was pretty captivated by how well you could hear the individual instruments,” Curry said. “They were kind of in the middle of this big jam, and I don’t know, it just felt like everyone was clicking.”
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The CU Jazz Festival wouldn’t exist without the efforts of founder and artistic director Jenelle Orcherton, who put the idea in motion in the fall of 2015. Going from just a few bands to over nine, the festival keeps growing each year, reaching more of the community and offering a wider range of ensembles and styles.
To take part in the Jazz Festival, participating groups and ensembles like Massa are reached out to based on different factors. Project themes, as well as venue compatibility and availability, all come into play, with Orcherton overseeing the performances.
“(My favorite part is) probably the actual show,” Orcherton said. “To see everyone play the music and having people share and listen to it and enjoy it.”
This year, groups have played all across Champaign-Urbana, from the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts to the Gallery Art Bar and the Rose Bowl Tavern.
One unique part of the CU Jazz Fest is that artists don’t stick to the conventional compositions and messages typically expected of the genre. Massa, for example, used unique playing techniques to spread awareness about the global water problem through jazz.
“Playing with this group allows me to connect with people through the familiarity of major and minor chords mixed with avant-garde and abstract free improvisation,” Massa said. “Through that, I’m able to connect with people on a deeper level than just through regular messages.”
The Jazz Festival is gaining popularity in the C-U community, introducing a wide array of jazz styles and artists from out of town to residents.
“Ideas need to be brought to people … and I think the work that the CU Jazz Festival is doing in an area like this is important because it’s bringing new music and new approaches to music than you would typically get in a smaller, more rural area,” Massa said.
