Ensemble makes jazz approachable
By Jane Muhlsten
Comprised primarily of Santa Clara music students and faculty, the Santa Clara Jazz Ensemble is presenting its quarterly concert on Tuesday, May 28. The spring concert will feature a wide-ranging blend of entertaining jazz.
Consisting of amateur musicians from throughout the community as well as members of the Santa Clara music department, the ensemble performs a fun, lively mix of songs. With its basses, saxophones, trumpets, trombones, drums, piano and guitar, it shows off the musical flair of many members of the Santa Clara community.
With this show, the ensemble is aiming to attract students who do not generally think of themselves as jazz fans. The key to enjoying the concert is to walk in with an open mind.
Director John Russell fears that when students hear the word jazz, they are intimidated or bored, but he promises that "this is not stuffy music." He wants students to attend the concert remembering that the "performers just want to have fun."
Russell says that since jazz started out as dance music, "rhyme and beat are as important in jazz as they are in rock music." He is sure that the music in this spring's show "will get people tapping their toes."
The concert features music that many might not have thought of as jazz and is geared to please an eclectic audience. The selected music covers a little bit of everything. Songs on the program span a wide range of musical styles, including swing, Latin and blues.
A slow, melodic ballad follows a quick Latin beat. The broad assortment of music keeps the audience on their toes. Even that bittersweet ballad picks up speed toward the end.
"We cover a lot of ground," said Russell.
In addition to the members of the Jazz Ensemble itself, the performance will feature two Santa Clara guest artists: Kris Strom on the tenor saxophone and Jim Witzel on the guitar, both members of the music department faculty. They will be joining the group with solos in several songs.
This is a special opportunity for students and others in the community to see these talented musicians play. Students "have got to come see these two people because they're really awesome," said senior Brad Okamoto who plays the tenor saxophone in the ensemble.
After four years of involvement with the Jazz Ensemble, this is Okamoto's final performance with the group. This concert will be the last for five graduating seniors and the last chance for their peers to come show recognition and support for their talent and hard work.
Like Okamoto, several other seniors have spent their entire Santa Clara careers in the Jazz Ensemble. Russell hopes that the performance will have an especially strong student turnout to say goodbye to these seniors.
Russell's greatest hope for the show is that students will not let intimidation keep them from experiencing this rewarding show
The Santa Clara Jazz Ensemble spring concert will take place on Tuesday May 28 at 7:30 p.m. in the Recital Hall. For ticket information, call (408) 554-4428.