CSC jazz ensembles perform spring concert

Despite the setbacks of fewer performers from the Vocal Jazz group, many crowd-pleasing solos and musical numbers filled Memorial Hall Tuesday night at the Jazz Band and Vocal Jazz Concert. 

For the seniors in both groups, this was a bitter-sweet end as graduation looms near. Vocal Jazz was down a few singers due to illness according to Joel Schreuder, the director of the group. Schreuder filled the alto gap with his own voice to accompany the vocals in the first part of the performance. 

Senior Leslie Hopton of Sundance, Wyoming performed a solo in the first song, “With A Song in My Heart”, written by Rodgers and Hart and arranged by Dave Barduhn. Hopton went on to perform two more solos not scripted on the pamphlets, with “I Could Write a Book” by Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart and “Just Friends” by John Klenner and Sam M. Lewis. 

Hopton was followed with other vocal and instrumental solos by Donica Enevoldsen, Jedd Raymond and Patrick Cassidy, in “All Blues” by Miles Davis and arranged by Joel Schreuder. 

Vocal Jazz completed their part of the performance with “The Lady is a Tramp” by Richard Rogers arranged by Steve Zegree. This song was written for the 1937 Broadway show “Babes In Arms” written by Rogers and Lorenz Hart. According to greatamericansongbook.net, both pieces were  written in Central Park as a ‘let’s put on a show’ musical. 

After a brief intermission, the jazz band ended the concert with various senior send-off solos. The band got to it with the fast-paced “Coconut Champaign” by Denis DiBlasio arranged by Victor Lopez. 

Senior Bryony Trump performed a clarinet solo in the next song “Splanky” by Neal Hefti arranged by Sammy Nestico accompanied by freshman James Larson who helped with a trumpet solo. 

According to the CSC Jazz Band director Dr. Michael Stephens, the ups and downs tune of  “Hunting Wabbits”, by Gordon Goodwin was the band’s favorite to play in class.  

The CSC Jazz Combo wrapped up the recital with three songs performed by certain members of the band. Stepehens invited the crowd to sing along to “Shofukan” by Michael League while the CSC Jazz Combo played.