The fall Bellevue College Jazz Night was held in the Carlson theater on Friday Nov. 6. Featured acts were a jazz combo of six horns and a rhythm section, “Celebration,” the vocal jazz ensemble and the big BC jazz band.
Opening the night was the jazz combo, directed by Jim Sisko. Featuring students in MUSC 106, Sisko explained that the combo has focused on learning the pieces largely by ear. The group opened with the Shorty Rogers piece “Pirouette,” the laid-back exchange of solos received intermittent applause from the crowd as the lead traded hands amongst the combo. After, two of the group’s saxophonists and one of the two trumpeters left the stage, as the remaining performers began a more upbeat piece, “The Jody Grind.” Those who left traded places with the remaining three horns, and played the Lee Morgan composition “Mr. Kenyatta.” Next, the rhythm section played the Thelonious Monk piece “I Mean You” without brass accompaniment. The combo then rounded out their performance with a full-band Latin song, “Ran Kan Kan” by Tito Puente.
Following the combo was the vocal jazz ensemble. As the stage was prepared, faculty piano instructor Shawn Schlogel entertained the audience with some solo piano. Soon he was joined by the remaining rhythm section and guest alto-saxophonist Jordin Tickle, at which point the backdrop changed to pink and the ensemble walked on stage. Led by Music Department Chairman Thomas Almli, “Celebration” tours regionally and nationally as competitors and entertainers. Currently consisting of 13 vocalists, “Celebration” took the stage in matching vests, as well as black dresses and sparkly high heels.
Compositions performed by the vocal ensemble included “Come Back to Me,” “Young and Foolish” and “Green Garden.” Several pieces featured particular lead singers, and during one composition there was an energetic scat duel between two of the vocalists. As “Celebration” wrapped up their performance, Almli thanked Performing Arts Manager Lyneen Patnoe for working to organize the night. Almli requested of the instrumentalists, to “give us some walking off music, guys” and was obliged as he and the ensemble left the stage.
The final performance of the night was the big band, which consisted of five saxophones and trumpets, four trombones and a rhythm section. Sisko explained that Tickle had agreed to fill in for their first tenor saxophonist, who couldn’t make the performance due to a family emergency.
The band opened with a dynamic piece from 1930, entitled “Moten Swing,” the group drifted between quiet peaceful moments and loud swinging. Next, Sisko remarked on the diversity and persistence of jazz, introducing the song composed in 2014, “Aura,” which employed a xylophone for its bell like timbre. A pair of rain-sticks opened “Softly as in a Morning Sunrise” in which Aaron Mclaren was featured on lead trumpet. “A Time for Love,” and “Daahoud” followed. Sisko reflected on the night while introducing the last composition, “Song For Bilbao,” saying that it is “great to hear a bunch of music from marvelous young musicians.”
Upcoming opportunites to hear BC students perform include a vocal jazz concert on Nov. 24, a Choral Arts Concert on Dec. 4, a big-band performance at Boxley’s Jazz Club and the semi-annual “From the Chamber” acoustic show both on Dec. 10.