Jazz is more than a basketball team for USU students
The Skyroom was transformed into an old-fashioned jazz club during Valentine’s Weekend.
In a multi-organizational cooperation, the annual Jazz Night at the Sky Club Dinner and Dance was Friday and Saturday, with a music-only student night Thursday. USU Catering, the Conference Center and the music department joined forces to put on the annual event, which raises funds for the Larry Smith Jazz Scholarship, said Andrea Binggeli, a USU conference coordinator.
A stage and dance floor were set up for the event in the Sky Room, located on the fourth floor of the TSC. During the event, the USU Jazz Ensembles teamed up with vocalists and trumpeter Dominic Spera to provide three hours of entertainment.
“It’s a really classy venue,” Binggeli said of the Skyroom.
Each of the three nights drew crowds of more than 100, she said.
“Everyone that I talked to said that it was one of the most successful (years), if not the most successful,” Bingelli said.
Melanie Weaver, who has attended previous jazz nights as well as this year’s student-only night, noticed an increased in the crowd and quality.
“They just keep getting better and better,” Weaver said.
Brad Henry, who pulled double duty, singing and playing trumpet in one of the ensembles, said he was surprised at the amount of people who showed up to dance the night away.
“I was literally shaking,” he said. “I didn’t think there was going to be that many people.”
Henry sang two numbers, a jazzy rendition of “Clementine,” and Bobby Darin’s “Beyond the Sea.” Henry said while he enjoyed the evening and felt he did well, it is his first year with the Jazz Ensemble, and only auditioned to be a vocalist for the event on a dare.
“I heard that it would be Bobby Darrin and looked into it. Turns out he’s kind of a big thing,” Henry said.
Jazz Night has been a USU tradition for some time. In the past, the event was a Glenn Miller event, and in recent years has been reinvigorated as a fundraiser for the Larry Smith Scholarship, Binggeli said. Binggeli said $6 out of every $40 admission goes to benefit the scholarship, with the rest covering costs.
Professor Emeritus Larry Smith was on hand, even lending his skills on the saxophone to the music. A flier for the evening cites Smith as being responsible for the creation of USU Jazz Studies. The scholarship in his name helps Aggies with a dedicated interest in studying jazz.
Spera is a professor emeritus of music at Indiana University. According to his bio, Spera has played first trumpet in Broadway productions and participated in a number of professional bands. Spera played a number of trumpet solos during Jazz Night, even lending his singing voice during a piece reminiscent of Louis Armstrong.
J.D. Burger said, an attendee of the evening, said he thought all of the elements combined to make a memorable experience.
“It’s a fantastic evening; the dancing, the music, everything,” he said.
Burger stretched his dancing legs throughout the night. He and his date were one of the many couples taking full advantage of the dance floor. Slower songs drew up to 20 couples while the faster beats thinned the floor to four or five.
“It’s pretty happenin’,” said Joe Zaleski, who attended the student night. “It’s something you can tap your foot to.”
Perla Arrieta, one of the many in attendance during the event said, “It’s like we’ve gone back in time to a different era, it’s great.”
Bingelli was extremely positive when speaking of the various partnerships involved with the event, not wanting to leave anyone out. The Jazz Night in her opinion, she said, offers a unique opportunity to the university, bringing business to the University Inn, USU Catering and Conference Center, as well as allowing music students to come together and perform.
“It’s like three different worlds but somehow it all comes together.” Binggelli said. “It makes a fun evening.”
Many of the clientèle, Bingelli said, have come up every year since the Glenn Miller event days; some performers, as well, continue to participate even after their graduations.
“We’re always wanting it to be an annual event,” Binggeli said.
Bingelli said that in addition to the Jazz Night, held every year, other similarly-conglomerate events are on the horizon for the university. In March, a collaboration of the Conference Center, ASUSU, English Writing Center, Pottery Guild and Caffe Ibis will hold a Slam Poetry/Beat Night. Nationally-recognized poet Anis Mojgani will appear as a guest artist, students will be able to present their own work open-mic, local art will be for sale and food will be provided.
–b.c.wood@aggiemail.usu.edu