Knights of Jazz present first concert, April 10
- Monday, April 2, 2018 11:07 AM
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Music
Six students will present the first-ever jazz combo concert at William Carey University on Tuesday, April 10. The free concert begins at 7 p.m. in the Thomas Fine Arts Center auditorium.
Jim Pierce, associate professor of music therapy, has been working with the jazz combo for a couple of years. The group has performed at various university and community events, but has never presented their own concert on campus.
“Carey’s best kept secret and one of the highlights of my week is having the opportunity to work with these highly-gifted and elite musicians,” Pierce said. “This concert will showcase individual players during this truly organic concert, featuring everything from Stevie Wonder to Dizzy Gillespie to Michael Brecker and everything in between.”
The six-person combo is comprised of two music therapy major vocalists (Lauren Beller and Rosa Gaines), two music education majors on drums and trumpet (Jeremiah Smith and Lyujohn Williams), and two guitar majors on electric bass and guitar (Danny Torres and Brewer Arnoult).
Gaines said the addition of the jazz combo helps make the music department more diverse in the types of performances it offers.
Torres said being part of something new has been a good experience. “It is an opportunity musically for us to all learn and grow together.”
The nature of a jazz combo is to highlight individual skills. “This group has surpassed all expectations, and their skill level needed to be shared with a much larger audience,” Pierce said. “I am really proud of the students and their individual efforts and dedication to the ensemble.”