The School of Music’s Jazz Spectacular came to a conclusion Friday night as Octet I and the Guest Quintet performed at the Pasant Theatre.
There were more than enough seats available, and it’s too bad more people didn’t jump at the opportunity to hear some solid jazz music.
The evening opened with Jazz Studies director Rodney Whitaker leading Octet I through a selection of songs by Thelonious Monk and Kenn Cox, among others.
East Lansing resident Robert Baecker, who saw two other jazz spectacular concerts last week, said this event shows off the talent of the jazz program.
He was especially impressed with bass player Randy Gancarz and trumpet player Kris Johnson, whom he saw perform Thursday night at the faculty performance.
“They were all very good, but I thought the bass player was exceptional - they highlighted him in the last piece,” he said.
Gancarz was the most fun to watch, coddling his bass and strumming the chords with enthusiasm and intense facial expressions.
“Love Dance,” by Cox, featured Tia Britt, whose crystalline vocals were a perfect match to the mood of the song. “Rhythm-A-Ning” featured pianist Zosia McKinney showing precise accuracy and speed during a solo.
The final song by Octet I, “Beyond the Dream,” written by Cox, progressively built itself from a soft groove to a smorgasbord of solos from each musician. It was a solid conclusion for a wonderful set.
The Guest Quintet featured Chuck Israels on bass, Miles Black on piano, Carl Allen on drums, Ron Blake on saxophone, Marcus Belgrave on trumpet and vocalist Mark Murphy.
Performing a variety of songs, including some composed by Israels (“Willow, Weep for me” and “Blues at the Source”), the group’s performance was both fun to watch and hear.
Blake and Belgrave were crowd favorites, and they knew it. While playing solos on his saxophone, Blake would often bend his knees and shimmy back and forth, while Belgrave repeatedly yelled out grunts of enthusiasm and approval to each performer’s solos.
Murphy used his dexterous voice skillfully, reaching high and low notes with ease, notably on one song that was a tribute to Miles Davis.
Sunny Wilkinson, jazz studies instructor of voice, performed the night before at the faculty performance, and she sees the jazz program to continuing to grow.
“This is the second year with Rodney in charge, and it’s gotten bigger, bolder and better,” she said. “I’m sure he’s going to continue to do that each year.”
Dennis Hansen, who is with MSU’s Campus Park and Planning, has been attending School of Music concerts for many years and said the jazz program has expanded, and that it really gives a full balance to the school.
“It’s interesting to hear the early (concerts and performers) from the fall semester, and see how they progress,” he said. “It’s kind of neat to see how they grow - you get these snapshots of them from year to year.
“Not only do you get to hear good jazz, but you get to see the kids grow up, year after year, until we graduate them away.”
Baecker said Whitaker is doing a wonderful job with the Jazz Studies Program.
“I think they’ll really be turning out some fine professionals here - they’ll go on and do well.”
