Carlos Santos
The Paw Print
This last Friday, October 11, Richardson Auditorium hosted an ensemble of Adams State university’s musical talents for the Homecoming weekend kickoff. ASU Faculty Jazz Combo, 68 West, and ASU Caribbean Jazz Project presented a one hour concert commencing at 8:00 pm to raise funds supporting the Adams State University department of Music. The concert was one of many events that took place over the Homecoming weekend which included a bonfire and hotdog eating contests as well earlier Friday evening.
The program kicked off with the ASU Faculty Jazz combo featuring director Mr. Joseph Armetta and fellow staff musicians: Mr. James Doyle, Mr. Marcos LeBlanc, and Dr. Matt Schildt. Four members of the ASU jazz improvisation class joined them to perform a mellow collection of American jazz classics. The set began with “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” by Joe Zawinul which was followed by “The Girl from Ipanema” by Brazilian great Antonio Carlos Jobim. Kenny Dorhams upbeat “Blue Bossa” featured solos by each Improv student, and the set ended with “Chelsea Bridge” by Billy Strayhorn and American Miles Davis’ “Freddie Freeloader.”
68 West was the next act featuring the voice talents of Sarah Oden, Victoria Ricci, Maxine Di Marco, Michelle Vance, Nolan Smith, David Webb, Skyler Choice, and Martin Jay McKee. Under the direction of Dr. Beth Robison, the chorale began with Peter Ceteras’ “Baby What a Big Surprise.” Next followed an excellent rendition of a song written by George David Weiss and Paul Thiele made popular by the great Louis Armstrong “What a Wonderful World.” They then finished up with Irving Berlins’ “What’ll I Do?” and the Beatles classic written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon “With a Little Help from My Friends.”
The final act of the jazz concert was a riveting compilation performed by the ASU Caribbean Jazz project directed by Mr. James Doyle. The 16 students contained numerous popular jazz instruments including drums, flute, trombone, trumpet, clarinet, baritone, and many more. The audience was treated to upbeat Caribbean jazz classics “Blue Gust” by Chris Washburne, “Cozumel” by Jose Rizzo, and ending with Spanish Harlem’s’ famous drummer-Tito Puente’s’ “Ran Ken Kan.”
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