California State University, Stanislaus Music Department held a Jazz Collective in the Bernell and Flora Snider Music Recital Hall on Nov. 8. The theme of the night was “Birth of the Cool & More” – a tribute to West Coast jazz.
It was a foot-tapping kind of night, with a balanced mix of slow and upbeat rhythms.
Trumpet player, Joe Mazzaferro, introduced the group and immediately involved the audience by asking if everyone was excited for the show. Attendees clapped while giving out multiple hollers and whistles.
From the start it was clear that I was sitting in a sea of invested attendees, and it made the experience that much more rewarding.
The night kicked off with “Rocker,” a lively, upbeat piece by Gerry Mulligan.
It then lead into a smooth-flowing love story, “Boplicity.” This piece had my mind wandering off to a rose-colored 1950s, and all I could picture was a sweet elderly couple slow dancing and thinking back on their life together. I couldn’t help getting lost in the cliche. The instruments effortlessly brought the story to life.
The attitude of “Line for Lyons” was hard to put a finger on. It featured two soloists, Michael Golden on the trumpet and Connor Baba on the baritone sax.
It was an odd but intriguing arrangement, and their back-and-forth interplay sounded like a complicated conversation between the two musicians.
The last two songs before intermission, “Georgia on My Mind” and “Move,” were crowd favorites. The vibrant, crescendoing codas resonated through the hall and left the attendees invigorated. Claps and loud cheers filled the room.
One attendee, Caleb Wittstruck, was already captivated by the show’s halfway point.
“I like how jazz has so many different styles,” Wittstruck (junior, Criminal Justice) said.
“It’s unpredictable. You never know what’s going to happen next.”
The second half of the show was even more impressive. I couldn’t stop moving in my seat; each song had such catchy melodies and rhythms.
“Unsquare Dance” was highly unique. The piece started off with every group member clapping in unison, and one-by-one the performers started playing their instruments while the others kept the beat.
The night was filled with excellent tunes, but I would have to say “Gravy” outshined them all. Trombone soloist, Jamie Dubberly, stole the show. It was a dynamic, in-your-face kind of solo, with an undeniable, classic blues feel to it.
“Bernie’s Tune” brought the show to an end, a fast-paced, exhilarating song that concluded with a bang.
The audience clapped uncontrollably, and smiles filled the room as the group took a final bow and exited the stage.
Before I knew it I was already humming some now familiar tunes while heading out the door.
For information on future events, visit csustan.edu/music, or call 209-667-3421.