Jazz Concert Critique. Essay Example
On Monday, September 27, I had the pleasure of attending a performance by the Amherst Jazz Orchestra. Founded and headed by Bandleader Dave Sporny this professional big band played rare and historically big band works to some of the newest original contemporary jazz music.
The Amherst Brewing Company looked small from the outside, even when I got inside there were many dining tables and a small place by the window for a fifteen piece band to fit in. Surprisingly they all fit perfectly. They took their seats and were about to start performance. Every musician was preparing his instrument very carefully; making sure it is in tune and ready to be used.
The front row of the big band comprised the following instruments: one electric guitar, five saxophones. Second row had three trombones and a keyboard player (conductor). The back row consisted of four trumpets, bass player and a drummer.
They opened the evening with the song called “Where’s Reg”. Everybody were playing melody when all of a sudden alto saxophone exploded in a breath taking solo, which was followed by less intense but nonetheless beautiful soprano. From the first sound you could tell that it’s going to be a nice evening. Their live performance sounded so superb and flawless as if listening them on the CD. A strange thought cross my mind: I wondered if the immaculate play of big bands comes by countless number of rehersals that made it impossible for performers to make a mistake or that experience made an instrument a projection of the musician’s soul so that playing is as easy as thinking?! I think it’s both. It has to be.
The soloist would stand up in order for the people to see who was playing it. Upright bass was doing a walk part which really highlighted the style and moved the song in especial smooth rhythm. Trombone played one more solo and drummer concluded the song by performing one of his own. What really caught my attention was that all other musicians stopped while the drums were
The Amherst Brewing Company looked small from the outside, even when I got inside there were many dining tables and a small place by the window for a fifteen piece band to fit in. Surprisingly they all fit perfectly. They took their seats and were about to start performance. Every musician was preparing his instrument very carefully; making sure it is in tune and ready to be used.
The front row of the big band comprised the following instruments: one electric guitar, five saxophones. Second row had three trombones and a keyboard player (conductor). The back row consisted of four trumpets, bass player and a drummer.
They opened the evening with the song called “Where’s Reg”. Everybody were playing melody when all of a sudden alto saxophone exploded in a breath taking solo, which was followed by less intense but nonetheless beautiful soprano. From the first sound you could tell that it’s going to be a nice evening. Their live performance sounded so superb and flawless as if listening them on the CD. A strange thought cross my mind: I wondered if the immaculate play of big bands comes by countless number of rehersals that made it impossible for performers to make a mistake or that experience made an instrument a projection of the musician’s soul so that playing is as easy as thinking?! I think it’s both. It has to be.
The soloist would stand up in order for the people to see who was playing it. Upright bass was doing a walk part which really highlighted the style and moved the song in especial smooth rhythm. Trombone played one more solo and drummer concluded the song by performing one of his own. What really caught my attention was that all other musicians stopped while the drums were