Lab Bands perform jazz melodies

From the classic jazz sounds of Count Basie to the modern beats of Bob Brookmeyer, every jazz enthusiast’s taste was sure to be satiated at UNC’s Spring 2010 Lab Bands Concert Wednesday night at the Union Colony Civic Center.

The concert was conducted by Dana Landry, Jim White, Erik Applegate, Joel Nagel and Benjamin Haugland, who directed Lab Bands I, II, III, IV and V, respectively. Lab Band I consists of the program’s top musicians and has recently received honors as the best college big band in the country, according to the night’s program.

Landry, the director of the University of Northern Colorado’s Jazz Studies program, said he enjoys working with a group of musicians who can be flexible and go a lot of different directions.

“It’s very exciting when you’re on stage, because you never know where it might go — it can take a turn at any moment,” Landry said.
 
Each band gave a performance of four songs, all varying in jazz genre and setting a different mood at each beginning note. Attendees could be seen swaying their heads and tapping their feet or simply closing their eyes to better savor each note.

One of the highlights of the night was the chart “Bass Suite I/Berbere,” which featured two bassists in a duet. The song was arranged by UNC alumnus, Chuck Dotas.

“You could tell they really liked what they were doing, slammin’ on the basses,” said Coty Dennis, a sophomore flute performance major.

Kelsey Shiba, a jazz studies graduate student, sang in one number for Lab Band I, and said her favorite part of the night was seeing the incredible performances and improvement made in the playing levels of all of the bands.

“It’s amazing to see such a growth in such a strange place — you wouldn’t expect Greeley to have one of the top jazz programs in the country,” Shiba said. “It’s amazing to be around such high caliber musicians all the time.”

Many of the songs featured soloists, giving musicians of every level and every instrument a chance for their talent to be heard. The audience members of about 200 were not the only ones who enjoyed the show.

“It’s great to hear the soloists and the interaction between soloists and the rhythm section,” said Jim White, a UNC jazz studies and drum professor and the director for Lab Band II. “The variety of music being performed is always a lot of fun to hear.”

Students who missed the event will have more opportunities to hear UNC jazz at this year’s 40th UNC/Greeley Jazz Festival, April 22 to 24. The celebration will include world-renowned jazz artists and a Woody Herman Tribute concert as part of other scheduled programs.

 
 


.