Students create jazz music
Lauren Bear
Issue date: 10/8/09 Section: Culture
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The concert was Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the Roland Hayes Concert Hall on campus.
Jon Elliott, a saxophonist and senior from Rossville, Ga., said he was one of three jazz band members chosen to play with the Jazz Ambassadors.
Elliott said the UTC Jazz Band had a "master class" Tuesday before the concert, during which the band performed a couple pieces, and the Army band critiqued them.
Dr. Erika Schafer, assistant director of bands and jazz band director, said the other two musicians she chose for the show were Jon Rose, a trombonist, and Nick Wysong, a trumpet player.
Schafer said the Jazz Ambassadors and selected UTC jazz band members performed "In the Mood," a 1940's piece, but the rest of the concert only featured the Army band.
Schafer also said the UTC Reserves Officer Training Corps performed a colorguard routine at the concert.
Schafer said watching her students play with the Army band was her favorite part.
"They fit in," Schafer said. "They looked like members."
Schafer said the Jazz Ambassadors were wonderful and she was very impressed. She said they sounded so good, she could not believe they were
playing live. Dr. Schafer said the event had a great turnout and was excited to see the number of veterans that attended the show.
H.A. Jones, a Nashville senior, said he really likes jazz music and the Jazz Ambassadors coming to campus is a great experience for UTC.
"It's really cool and an awesome opportunity for those in the UTC Jazz Band and others who just have a passion for jazz," Jones said.
Schafer said the UTC Jazz Band currently has 19 members and typically performs one concert each semester. However, she said this semester the jazz band will perform at Rock City Nov. 19 at 6:30 p.m. and at the Roland Hayes Concert Hall Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m.
"I am trying to get them performing more," Schafer said. "Having one concert off campus and one on campus each semester."
Schafer said she has only been at UTC for a year, but she already has goals for the jazz band.
She said she would like to have the UTC Jazz Band go on a brief, two day tour to high schools in Memphis and Nashville. She said the band is trying to get a government grant to make that possible. She also said she would like more students to gain interest in jazz, and for UTC to have two jazz bands like larger schools.
Dr. Schafer said she only teaches her students music by the masters, but that includes everything from traditional swing to punk chart and modern pieces. She also said she teaches her students improvisation and jazz history and education.
"I think everyone should learn about jazz," Schafer said. "It's one of the only true American art forms. It was born in America."
