RATINGS
All University Jazz Band: 4/5
Jazz Lab Band: 3.5/5

On a cold and rainy Thursday night, the NIU All University Jazz Band and the Jazz Lab Band made Boutell Memorial Concert Hall a lively hot spot for jazz enthusiasts.

First to stage, receiving warm welcomed cheers and applause, was the All University Jazz Band under director Shawn Bell, a Liberace Scholar. The first piece, “Sweet Georgia Brown,” was a loud snare-infused entrance that set up and chopped through three great solos. All three solos sounded great, but left little time for the audience to appreciate because it seemed after the solos were done, the song finished. “Sweet Georgia Brown” was a great and exciting way to open a cold and wet night.

The second piece entitled “Half the Fun” was really the most fun of the All University Jazz Band’s 30-minute set. It featured a much slower beat than “Sweet Georgia Brown” and an extensive mood-setting drum section. Drummer Daniel Henson did a great job using different methods to create a fun jungle atmosphere. The muted trumpets also set the atmosphere even deeper into the minds of the audience.

The third piece, “Shiny Stockings” by Count Basie, was a nice swing tune that picked the beat up with surging drum and trumpet sections. However the selection after “Shiny Stockings” was melodic and beautiful. Trumpeter Robert Cooper came from the back row of his fellow trumpeters to serenade the crowd during the quiet and soothing “I Remember Clifford” by Benny Golson.

Bell stepped aside and let his graduate student take over for the All University Jazz Band’s last piece, “Manteca.” The salsa-styled piano introduction really set the mood and kept the audience interested throughout the number. In the brass section the high and low contrast between the trumpets and the trombones and saxophones was a great feeling.

The three solos in this piece were just as memorable as the contrast in the brass section. Gerard Williams’ performance on the tenor saxophone had a great vibe and kept the song surging on. However, when Kimberly Branch entered her solo the audience noticed some change. A thunderous entrance followed by an outrageous improv solo made her sound stick to the walls. After Branch’s exciting solo, it was hard to enjoy Len’I Glenn’s follow-up solo on the baritone saxophone.

“Manteca” and the All University Jazz Band set ended on a very catchy and upbeat melody that stuck with the audience until the end of intermission and to the start of the Jazz Lab Band’s set.
The always excited and vibrant director Rodrigo Villanueva took the stage with his Jazz Lab Band’s 19 members. All the pieces playing during the 40-minute set list were extremely loud, focusing on the brass section, except for one piece. The fifth piece, “Central Park West” by John Coltrane, was the only number that didn’t try to explode in the audience’s ears. It was an all-around quiet and smooth song that would build up huge climaxes right before Natalie Scharf’s smooth and gentle solos.

Before “Central Park West” calmed the set down, Villanueva introduced “Not Yet!,” a number he originally created and dedicated to his son and his family. With muted trumpets, this piece was slightly quieter than the rest, but still left the audience’s ears ringing. It did however end with a dreamy guitar and trumpet fade out, which was very pleasing.

All comments are moderated before being published. We will not edit your comments, but we also will not approve those that are abusive, off-topic, attack another poster or contain information we know to be libelous or false.

During peak weekday viewing times, most comments will be reviewed within six hours. For more detailed information, click here.

After submitting your comment, check below for a confirmation message.

• Your name:
• Enter text from image:
  

• Your comment:

* 300-character count. HTML formatting will not display.