REVIEW: Syncopated aggies score with sharps and flats
Jazz music was invented in the early 20th century and quickly became an icon of African-American culture and a part of America as a whole. This form of music was so closely tied to American and African-American culture that it was banned during the Third Reich in Nazi Germany.
This tradition has survived the past 100 years. On Wednesday, three jazz combo groups gathered in the USU Performance Hall to showcase their talents to 243 spectators. All members of the bands are USU students, most of whom did well during this performance.
For Rebekah Pratt, who was playing the piano for the group What is Mu?, the event was her first keyboard solo performed in front of a large audience.
“One Hand Clapping” was the first band to play and consisted of five members playing two guitars, bass, drums and saxophones. They played four numbers: “Everybody’s Party,” “Take Five,” “Jugular” and “Red One.” The audience really only truly appreciated “Red One” because it was the only song where they actually played together as a band instead of just taking turns performing solos.
During the group’s set, I was overcome with the realization that this is still a student band and was performing as such. Weighing heavily on the guitars and sax, a person is still left with a feeling that this was meant to be a rock band that just decided to perform jazz one day.
What is Mu? followed up with a well-rounded group of performers, consisting of six members playing two guitars, bass, piano, drums and saxophones. During the set of three songs, “Solar,” “Children’s World” and “Black Nile,” the audience members were tapping their feet and swaying to the music.
“Children’s World” was especially tasteful, with the dynamics of the music included into a melody that really starts with the imagination focused on a child sitting in a small corner and then moves to the possibility of the child growing into whatever she wished to be.
This was the perfect example of the transdimensional nature of music – the ability to transport a person’s mind to another place and time. This song, as performed by What is Mu?, captured that perfectly.
Finally, the Caine Jazz Combo followed up with what a jazz band should be. Seven performers played not only the guitar, drums and saxaphone but also dabbled with the bull fiddle, trombone, piano, trumpet, bass clarinet and even the Flugel horn. Playing “Prince Albert,” “Never Let Me Go” and “Come and See,” this group blew the audience away with its amazing sound.
During “Prince Albert,” trumpet player James Canty performed the best best trumpet solo I have ever heard from someone who is not already a platinum performer. The sound, the trills and the complex rhythm and syncopation astounded many who were there.
This is a band that should be playing in lounges and even playing at school dances – it was actually danceable. During “Prince Albert,” our swing team would have a blast twirling girls in the air and doing spin after spin to the upbeat song.
Next the band showed not only the ability to go loud and fast, but beautiful and slow with the song “Never Let Me Go.” My only regret was not having a beautiful girl in a slinky dress to dance with.
For anyone who enjoys jazz and wishes to go to another concert, there will be a big band jazz show at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20 in the USU Performance Hall.
Overall, this performance was very enjoyable. In the words of Dean Martin, “These cats can really swing.”
– Taylor Underwood is a sophomore double majoring in cultural anthropology and western history. He is currently publishing a study on the board game subculture at USU. Send any comments to tunderwoodUW21@gmail.com.