Studio Big Band/Jazz Improv Ensembles Give Redlands an Evening of Music

It was no surprise when the University of Redlands School of Music awed Redlands residents again with a music-filled evening. The One O'Clock Jazz Improvisation Ensemble, the Eleven O'Clock Jazz Improvisation Ensemble, and the Studio Jazz Band all gathered together, along with an excited audience, in the Casa Loma Room at the University of Redlands before the Thanksgiving holiday on Monday, Nov. 25. The jazz bands at the University of Redlands usually perform twice each semester, but this was actually their third performance - the bands put together a special performance earlier in the year for the University of Redlands faculty dinner. This particular musical concert saw all the seats filled, and the audience enjoyed jazz music produced by the young University of Redlands School of Music students for nearly three hours. To prepare for the concert, the bands rehearsed twice a week as part of the regular school day every week for several weeks to prepare for this performance. Angel Martinez, an audience member who came to support his high school friend, Brian Hotchkiss, was swept away that evening by the performance. Martinez and Hotchkiss had been close friends since the sixth grade, having met in the school's band program. They had been band peers ever since, as they both continued band all through high school. Hotchkiss and Martinez both graduated as band champions from Etiwanda High School, Class of 2013. "It was amazing seeing Brian performing with the University's jazz band. I always knew he'd excel in music, and I'm happy he is continuing his passion for music at the university level. I have seen him grow so much musically throughout the years, and he was always one of the best musicians. This performance was amazing, and made me really happy for him," said Martinez. There were a few driving forces behind the concert: Studio Big Band Director David Scott, Jazz Ensemble Performance Director Dan Murphy, and guest soloist Craig Yancey. David Scott is an associate professor at the University of Redlands School of Music. He has been teaching in the Los Angeles area for approximately 30 years and has a rich background in music, as he has been part of many musical groups as the principal trumpet including: the Redlands Symphony Orchestra, the Riverside County Philharmonic and the San Bernardino Symphony. "We get to play great music all the time, and you get to see how all the students keep stepping up to the plate. They get better and better all semester long, and we really get to put it all together at the performance. It's amazing seeing them do what that they do and seeing them grow musically," Scott said of the group. Like David Scott, Dan Murphy, director of the jazz ensemble performance, also has a rich music history background and is a professor at the University of Redlands School of Music. He has performed on the east coast and the southern California area, and has made many local appearances at many grand music events such as the Redlands Bowl, Blue Jay Jazz Festival, The Performance Loft, the Jazz at Redlands concert series, and at many southern California jazz clubs. Murphy agreed with Scott that the most rewarding part as director is getting to see the students' musical growth. This particular jazz performance featured a music star in the band spectrum, Craig Yancey. Yancey has been working as a professional musician and educator for more than 40 years. He helped prepare for this performance and served as a mentor to the School of Music students. He contributed to the performance with solos on the saxophone and flute. "Yancey was great. He's had so much music experience, and it was great that [Dan Murphy] was able to bring him out and share his skill and knowledge with our students," Scott said. Yancey was not the only soloist at this performance; the lead alto saxophone of the Studio Big Band, Kelsey Broersma, was also featured as a soloist. The audience was entertained by many jazz pieces by the One O'Clock Jazz Improvisation Ensemble, the Eleven O'Clock Jazz Improvisation Ensemble, and the Studio Jazz Band. The One O'Clock Jazz Improvisation Ensemble played pieces including: Line for Lyons (Gerry Mulligan), Rapture (Harold Land), Gingerbread Boy (Jimmy Heath), These Times (Mike Stern), and Sack of Woe (Juliann "Cannonball" Adderley). The Eleven O'Clock Jazz Improvisation Ensemble played: Lochiel's Warning (Peter Asplund), Wildflower (Wayne Shorter), Southern Pacific (John Scofield), November 15 (Kenny Garrett), Water on the Pond (Miles Davis), and Bolivia (Cedar Walton). The Studio Jazz Band played the pieces: The Doomsday Machine Meets Mr. Gelado (Ellen Rowe), Naima (John Coltrane arr. Manny Mendelson), Red Clay (Freddie Hubbard arr. Mike Crotty), Friendly Neighbor Bossa (Frank Mantooth), Oneida (John Coltrane), and Computer (Bob Mintzer). University of Redlands School of Music freshman and trombone player Brian Hotchkiss said, "This experience has been awesome. I've always loved music. It's been a big part of my life since middle school. Each time we practice, it's like a big group of people having fun instead of actual 'class time.' I love it."