On Friday May 7, 2010, School of Arts and Humanities presented the Jazz Band II's performance at the Jonsson Performance Hall. This was one of the many performances by different musical ensembles as part of the Spring Arts Festival at UTD. Following the performance of electric guitar ensemble, the MUSI 3386 jazz band members walked onto the stage already prepared with chairs and music stands. The student ensemble consisted of a trumpet, an alto sax, two tenor saxes, a pianist, electric keyboardist, two bass guitarists, two guitarists (one of which was a faculty member), and a drummer. Of course, the music instructor was present in front of the ensemble but he tended to move aside after conducting only the first few measures for each piece. All of the performers were wearing black, which gave a sense of unification and professionalism within the ensemble.
The jazz ensemble’s repertoire was composed of nine unique jazz and blues pieces ranging from the 60’s to contemporary era. Notable characteristics of the pulsatile songs played were emphasis on upbeats/syncopation, sprinkles of improvisation by soloists, and series of ornamentations (trills, chromatic scales, arpeggios, and accents) added in specific modes whether major or minor. Other observations included meticulous use of dynamics, consistent implementation of motives and themes, and alternating solo parts (like question and answer) that gradually became more intense. The various tempos dramatically changed the tone of the music. The physical movements of the musicians were more obvious in fast-paced pieces which seemed to require one to tap with the rhythm on foot.
The audience members scattered throughout the seats mostly consisted of students who had come to support their musical peers. The audience showed a fair amount of support in general via applauding (and even hollering) after each segment of solos and duets throughout the repertoire and at the end of each piece. Some people were finger tapping or nodding along the beat of the music. The relatively small scale and austerity of the performance hall helped focus the attendees’ attention on the dozen or so performing artists who filled up the stage. Some audience members left their seats in the middle of the program as the schedule was delayed. Considering the evening timing frame, I bet many people, especially the ones who had been staying since the electric guitar ensemble’s performance, were getting hungry and antsy.
