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Perform at Dibden
On Wednesday, April 30 and Thursday, May 1, Johnson State’s different musical groups performed their end of semester concerts for the JSC community and public. These acts included the JSC Guitar Ensemble, Jazz band, Afro-Cuban ensemble, Funk Fusion Ensemble, Concert Band, Concert Choir, and Chamber Singers.
The Guitar Ensemble, directed by Greg Matses, kicked things off on Wednesday with a very impressive set of songs performed with different types of guitar. Three songs were performed, ranging from Bach to the Police – which was the stand-out song with ensemble member Jessica Albright channeling Sting himself with her vocals.
Next up was the jazz band. They too had a wide range of music. One of the funniest moments of the night was when director Steve Blair asked if there were any Pat Metheny – Jazz composer extraordinaire – fans in the audience, and there was a clear lack of response. If only there had been crickets to chirp… The Metheny song was great, of course. Another outstanding song was jazz classic, “All of Me,” which has even been performed by punk band NOFX. Jessica Albright provided vocals for this song as well. As always, there were a number of great solos, showing just how talented the JSC musicians are.
The Afro-Cuban Ensemble, directed by Andrew Moroz, followed. This particular group had the evening’s most interesting instruments, including both a violin and a melodica; which looked like the keyboard’s distant cousin and is quite possibly the coolest instrument ever to be played. This ensemble also featured what Moroz described as a “mighty percussion solo.” It was pretty mighty.
Rounding out the show was the Funk Fusion Ensemble under the direction of Anthony Geraci. The song list featured a number of well-known pieces, such as “Sunshine of Your Love” by Cream, a Ray Charles number called “Night and Day,” and “Is This Love,” by Bob Marley, who can be heard at least once upon a cross-campus stroll or seen in tapestry form from many a window.
To sum things up, the first evening’s performance was great.
The second night’s show was just as good but with quite
The Afro-Cuban Ensemble performing in Dibden. (Photo by Jessie Forand)
different musical styling. The JSC Concert Band started things, with direction by Steven Light. The Dave Brubeck medley was wonderful, and two student-composed pieces, by Nicholas Treis and Kyle Reardon, were both very impressive. “Lord of the Rings” fans were no doubt impressed with the epic piece of the same name, which Light explained was based on the books, not the movies.
The JSC Concert Choir followed. Their songs included a set of three Renaissance Latin motets, which director Dr. Lisa Jablow explained were considered the most acceptable music of the time period, occurring in the 1500s and 1600s. The Choir sounded great and the singers were extremely talented.
The JSC Chamber Singers were next. They began with a piece from “Lamento D’Arianna,” which sounded beautiful despite its somber lyrics, which were provided in English in the program; the song’s first and last lines stated “Leave Me to Die.” The best song title of the night was certainly one performed by the Chamber Singers – “Hey There My Speckled Hens.”
The Combined Choirs meshed the two groups for a song called “Penas.” Again, the English lyrics, when read from the program, were very serious (… “I know that a profound sorrow among pains without a number is the slavery of men, the great pain of the world”…) but when the Choirs performed the song, it was very beautiful.
To finish the evening, the band reemerged to play with the Concert Choir. The song was “Circus Band,” and that is truly what it sounded like. A song by Charles Ives, it was extremely cool. Also, Light and Jablow conducting simultaneously was very fun to watch.
All of the ensembles were impressive, and they put on two great nights of music.