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Arts & Life
The Clarion \ October 9, 2019
Alumni jazz concert
Performers rock the stage
By Carmen Boone
Copy Editor
The Alumni Jazz Band put on a concert
Saturday, Oct. 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the Porter
Center’s Scott Concert Hall. It was yet another
spectacular performance.
Jamie Warren, the director, also plays
trombone in the band. To kick off the concert,
the band began with a piece called “In the
Mood,” written by Joe Garland and arranged
by Glenn Miller.
Second in the set was an original piece not
listed on the program called “Two Bone BBQ.”
Third was Ellington and Strayhorn’s “Satin
Doll,” arranged by Sammy Nestico.
After that came “Someone to Watch Over
Me,” by George and Ira Gershwin, arranged by
Dave Wolpe. Karen Dale, class of 1979, sang a
fantastic solo in this piece.
Cedric Guthrie was the next talented vocalist
who sang in Hoagy Carmichael’s “Georgia,”
also arranged by Wolpe. Then Dale was
welcomed back for a soulful “Fever,” by John
Davenport and Eddie Cooley, arranged by Roger
Holmes.
For the seventh piece of the night, Guthrie
was the soloist in Bart Howard’s “Fly Me to
the Moon,” arranged by Nestico. Guthrie did an
incredible job. A short 10 minute intermissoin
followed.
“720 In the Books,” by Jan Savitt and Johnny
Watson was the piece to start the show back up
after intermission. Then, there was a surprise
in store for a member of the band. Dr. Kathryn
Gresham invited the band and the audience to
sing Happy Birthday to Chris Center for his 24
birthday that night.
Following that, the concert resumed with Duke
Ellington’s “Concerto For Cootie,” featuring
a trumpet solo by Cory Hall. After that was a
spectacular piece. Anthony Newley’s “Feeling
Good” was accompanied by vocalist Paul Gerber
who did a great job filling the room with lots
of soul.
The next piece was full of solos left and
right as it rocked the audience for minutes on
end. It was titled “Manteca,” written by Dizzy
The Alumni Jazz Band joined by vocalist Karen Dale (red) as they bring the house down in ‘Fever.’
Gillespie and arranged by Steve Owen. The
solos included: Daniel Ethridge on the piano,
Staci Spring on the bassoon, Chris Walters on the
trombone, Wes Parker on the alto saxophone and
bongos played by current senior Ryan Burnette.
Next was Yoko Kanno’s “Tank!” Parker
had another alto saxophone solo in that piece.
Then in the supposed last piece of the night,
Maynard Ferguson’s “Fire Shaker,” Warren
had a trombone solo and Bull Canty had one
on the trumpet.
Then, Warren had another special surprise
before the concert was over. The band had
prepared another encore tune for the audience
who went wild to hear it. It included solos by
Kyle Jackola on the tenor saxophone, Canty on
trumpet and Dave Hardy on guitar.
The concert was a major success and all who
attended enj oyed a marvelous, j azzy set of music
performed by talented musicians.
Saxophones:
Wes Parker - alto
Chris Center - alto
Kyle Jackola - tenor
Mike Meyers - baritone
Trombones:
Jamie Warren
Chris Walters
Tommy Spittle
Davis Whitfield-Cargile
Trumpets:
Deangelo Smotherson
Bull Canty
Cory Hall
Cameron Nixon
Rhythm Section:
Chris Morgan - guitar
Dave Hardy - guitar
Staci Spring - piano
Daniel Ethridge - piano
Gerald Dishon - bass
Jeremy Blake - bass
Byron Hedgepeth - drums
Vocals:
Cedric Guthrie
Karen Dale
Paul Gerber