by Amby Sarabia
Staff Writer
Heads were bopping, feet were tapping and fingers were snapping in tune with the music of the Reed Gratz Band, who performed Tuesday night in Founders Auditorium to a crowd of students, faculty, family members and alumni.
The group dazzled the audience with its fast paced Latin numbers and jazzy tunes.
“All the players have expertise with Latin music and Latin-oriented jazz music,” Gratz said.
The numbers performed were Gratz’s original compositions. Of the six songs performed during the first half of the show, “Show Me Some ID,” “When It Goes Past Noon,” “View From the South,” “The Amish” and “Mr. Mike,” all were upbeat except for one song, titled “Erin’s Eyes,” which Gratz wrote for his eldest daughter.
“That song was my favorite,” said Yvonne Belcher, a 1952 ULV graduate who attends concerts at the University frequently. “I liked the way the piano and guitar sounded together.”
Tuesday night was the first time the group played together, though the seamless performance made it sound like they had played together many times before.
“It’s a great group of musicians,” Gratz said. “It’s really an honor to play with musicians of this caliber.”
Prior to starting this group, Gratz, who did not belong to a particular group of musicians, generally performed with other freelance musicians like himself.
A renowned musician, Gratz travels to the Netherlands for three months in the summer where he also performs with various musicians.
“There are not that many bands anymore,” Gratz said. “You just put people together who you would like to play with.”
This is how the Reed Gratz Band was established.
Four of the five musicians were attached to the University in some way, while guitarist Michael O’Neil is currently touring with jazz musician George Benson.
Four of the five members had preformed with the others once before.
With such busy schedules, the group only had one rehearsal before performing Tuesday night.
“These are very high quality musicians,” said Juanita Lapp, a 1953 ULV alumna. “They sound good.”
Besides Gratz and O’Neil (guitar), band members include ULV graduate Andrew Ford (bass), ULV Music Department assistant/technician Steven Biondo (percussion), student Michael Bennett (drums) and Gratz (piano).
The members’ ability to perform with various musicians with very little rehearsal time showed Tuesday as the five players resembled a group who had been playing together for years.
Their interaction with one another on stage also gave viewers the impression that they were long-time friends as they smiled and laughed during the second half of the concert.
“I can’t tell you how great it is to play with great players,” Gratz said.
After a 10 minute break, the group returned to entertain the audience with three more songs; “Yo Quiero Pulpito,” “Cresent Bay” and “Toca la Mañana,” all up-tempo sambas.
Ending the concert with a bow, the crowd showed its appreciation with whistles and cheers.
Aside from being a professor at the University, Gratz performs with other jazz groups in the local area and was a Grammy nominee this year.
Gratz has recorded three CDs which he sells through his Web site, www.reedgratz.webs.com.
