VCU orchestra jazzes it up
Even though VCU’s Jazz Orchestra band members play together as a class just twice a week, a listener might think they have been playing together for years after hearing them live.
“We’re like a big family so we play together a lot,” said trombonist Sam Savage, a senior jazz-studies major.
Even though VCU’s Jazz Orchestra band members play together as a class just twice a week, a listener might think they have been playing together for years after hearing them live.
“We’re like a big family so we play together a lot,” said trombonist Sam Savage, a senior jazz-studies major.
Conducted by Antonio Garcia, VCU’s director of jazz studies, the Jazz Orchestra I class performed in concert on Nov. 10, in front of a packed Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall in VCU’s Singleton Center for the Performing Arts.
They performed eight songs. Between each song, Garcia took time to introduce members of the band and VCU’s jazz faculty in the center.
Garcia even paid respect to parents who helped with the jazz program in the past and to longtime jazz enthusiast, Bob Walsh, who was also in the audience.
“It was a real spur of the moment, a real good way to spend the night. I’m gonna come back and see the rest of the shows.”
– Linda Finklstein
“I’ve been coming here for years,” said Walsh, who has also been playing the drums for more than 50 years. Garcia said in the past, Walsh was instrumental in getting other VCU jazz bands to play in West Point, which is 40 miles south of Richmond.
“We have a new auditorium (in West Point),” said Walsh, a friend of faculty member, Doug Richards. “It was just a good idea to get the band to play there.”
The concert brought out other VCU students.
“They did a really good job,” said David Pinilla, a junior music major. “I really enjoyed the trombone solos.”
Pinilla also brought one of his friend, Linda Finklstein, who has never seen the Jazz Orchestra I band play before.
“It was a real spur of the moment, a real good way to spend the night,” said Finklestein, a junior painting and printmaking major. “I’m gonna come back and see the rest of the shows.”
Trombonist Jack Ballard might have been a little nervous, but said he still had a good time playing with his friends.
“It’s really scary, but it’s what I like to do and I’m doing it with guys that I like,” said Ballard, a junior jazz-studies major.
Before and after the show, people could purchase the VCU Jazz CD, “It Could Happen to You,” with the proceeds going to the VCU Jazz Students Fund.
The Jazz Orchestra I class also played another show in West Point the following night.
