Concord students were granted a cultural delight on Monday, September 29 in the form of Concord’s own Jazz Ensemble.
The group is made up of 8 members of the university. The ensemble is directed by Dr. David Ball, Professor of Music. Along with acting as the group’s director, Dr. Ball also contributes his own musical talents, his instrument of choice being a bass trombone. The rest of the ensemble is made up of Stephanie Lowden, playing both the tenor saxophone and the bass saxophone, Krysta Johnson, playing the flute, Roman Runyon on the drums, Cody Boone playing both guitar and trumpet, David Lanter, also on the trumpet, Jeff Drannon on piano, and Chance Rader playing the bass guitar. The ensemble’s performance also featured guest vocalists Crystale Taylor and Samuel Whittaker.
The group performed classic jazz pieces that almost anyone would have heard at one point or another as well as more contemporary pieces, including a delightful jazz rendition of Paper Doll by John Mayer.
The performance by the ensemble was a fun cultural experience for all in attendance. Even audience members with little musical background caught themselves swaying with the smooth rhythm.
Dr. Ball and his students put on a phenomenal display of a genre that most people in Athens, West Virginia, are unlikely to be familiar with.
The set list was an expertly crafted combination of classical and more contemporary jazz styles that really had something for every taste. The group had a fantastic energy and their musical talents were incredibly impressive.
This performance was the first in a set of three performances the ensemble is set to perform this semester at Concord.
The next performance will be on October 27, and Dr. Ball and the rest of the Concord University Jazz Ensemble encourages any student with or without any familiarity with jazz or music in general to come and partake of their talents.