Rebekah Tirrell
The Paw Print
The Music Department came together to create a beautiful night of jazz. Wednesday, November 17, brought Adams State Big Band, Jazz Combo, 68 West, and Acoustic Blues to the Adams State community and the Alamosa community as well. The directors were Professor James Doyle, instruments, and Dr. Beth Robison, vocals. The music was flawless, and every song nearly took one’s breath away, and one could feel peace and comfort for a few moments. This concert had many remarkable points. One of these points was the seniors. There were twelve seniors total, and two of these students performed for the last time for Adams State College: Seniors Melanie Hawthorne and Leslie Kahler played in excellent form. Both had solos which were beautiful. Melanie Hawthorne played alto saxophone as her last performance. She is a Music Education and Composition major and plays a number of instruments, including clarinet, drums, and saxophone. Leslie Kahler played tenor saxophone for her last performance. She is a very gifted student who plays clarinet and all types of saxophone. Her majors are Music Performance and English Education.
Another notable performance came from Wilson Luallen. Luallen is a cellist who happens to be a senior at Alamosa High School, and was invited to play with Doyle’s students. He is on his way on becoming an excellent cellist, and one of his own pieces was played in this concert.
James Doyle directed the ASC Big Band and the Jazz Band. The pieces performed were beautiful, and some were very complex. These pieces were adapted from John Clayton, Sammy Nestico, Luiz Bonfa, Dizzy Gillespie, Paul Desmond, Wilson Luallen as arranged by Luallen and Paden, Ray Henderson arranged by Kubis, and Bronislau Kaper arranged by Mantooth. The students picked a few of the songs themselves and showed the audience what endurance through a difficult piece can lead to, a beautiful harmony that nearly takes your breath away.
Dr. Beth Robison was in charge of the vocals on this night. Her acapella singers of the group 68 West were beautiful. The songs performed were adapted from Irving Kahal and Sammy Fain arranged by Meader, Anders Edenroth, John Lennon and Paul McCartney arranged by Emerson, Oscar Hammerstein and Jerome Kern arranged by The Temptations and 68West, U2 arranged by Chilcott, Soweto Gospel Choir and 68 West. The soloists were beautiful, and the men did a few songs that were amazing.
Acoustic Blues is another student musical group, yet they are independent of Adams State College. Their vocalist was Abe Rosenberg, who led the group in renditions of Huneysuckle Rose and Sweet Georgia Brown, with a few adaptations of their own. The group reminds one of old fashioned music that was once played using banjos and guitars.
A lot of the music took one back to earlier times, simpler times. The songs came from movies, plays, Liverpool, and having a good time. One song, Old Man River, in particular was dedicated to a lost loved one, and one was composed and written by a student in the band. The night was beautiful and full of beautiful music. The Music Department has more concerts ready for the holidays. December 2 is the Percussion Concert, played in Richardson Hall at 7:30 p.m. December 4 is a Symphony Concert at 7:30 pm, also in Richardson Hall. The annual Winterfest will take place in Richardson Hall as well, on December 5 at 7 p.m. They are all excellent concerts for a great season. Hope to see you there!
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