by Jennifer Phillips
Staff Writer
Melodic rhythms and smooth beats will be heard during the Jazz Ensemble’s special preview concert Thursday, Feb. 23 at noon in the quad. The preview is for its upcoming concert, Saturday evening, Feb. 25, at 7:30 in Founders Auditorium.
Every Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. instructor Gayle Serden and the musicians hard at work for the concert.
“These people are incredible,” proudly states Serden.
Not everyone in the ensemble is a music major. As a matter of fact not everyone in the ensemble is in college. The majority of the musicians are ULV seniors and two of the members attend high schools in the local area. Yazmine Fleming and Waleed Rashidi are both part-time students at the ULV as well as high school students.
The ensemble consists of Jarret Brown, alto/tenor sax; Fleming, piano; Rashidi, drums; Suzanne Hamlin, piano; Neal Foster, trumpet/fluglehorn horn; Mario Lopez, guitar; Alex Martinez, bass; Raul Sandoval, drums; and Skip Sams, vocals.
This is a larger group compared to last year’s ensemble which had only five members including a trumpet, trombone, piano and bass player.
“It’s a chance to come and hear some great jazz,” said Serden.
The concert is the only one of the semester and will feature contemporary standard jazz. Admission is free.
