The Hope College Standards Ensemble, Mainstream Ensemble and Jazz Arts Collective will present "Jazz Night at the Knickerbocker" on Thursday, Oct. 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the Knickerbocker Theatre in downtown Holland.

The public is invited. Admission is free.

° The Standards Ensemble will begin the concert by performing "Voyage," by Kenny Barron; "Elm," by Richie Beirach; and "Armando's Rhumba," by Chick Corea. The Standards Ensemble is coached by Brian Coyle, who is a professor of music and director of the jazz studies area at Hope, and includes sophomore Jared DeMeester of Grand Rapids, bass; senior Larry Figueroa of Holland, piano; senior Caleb Murray of Half Moon Bay, Calif., tenor saxophone; junior Luke Panning of Holland, violin; and junior David Webster of Troy, drums.

° The Mainstream Ensemble will then perform "Ahmad's Blues," by Ahmad Jamal; "Spring is Here," by Rodgers and Hart; and "Domingo," by Benny Golson. The Mainstream Ensemble is coached by Rob Hodson, who is an associate professor of music and chairperson of the department, and includes senior Zach Pedigo of Chippewa Falls, Wis., bass; junior Michael Reynolds of Tampa, Fla., piano; and junior Wayne Titus of Canton, drums.

The Jazz Arts Collective will close the concert by performing "The Weather is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful," by Jeff Benedict; "Under Current," by Jim Cifelli; "Whirly Bird," by Justin Morell; and "Caravan," by Duke Ellington. Directed by Coyle, the Jazz Arts Collective includes: freshman Scott Cathey of Ada, trumpet; Jared DeMeester, bass; sophomore Michael Graverson of Hamilton, guitar; freshman Jarred Mackey of Jenison, percussion; freshman Matthew Milliken of Fenton, baritone saxophone; Caleb Murray, alto saxophone; Luke Panning, violin; Zach Pedigo, tenor saxophone; Michael Reynolds, piano; senior Jeff Sweers of Jenison, trombone; and Wayne Titus, drums.

The Hope jazz chamber ensembles such as the Standards Ensemble and Mainstream Ensemble afford students the opportunity to perform in the classic small group combo setting. The ensembles vary in size and instrumentation and place a creative focus on improvisation and group communication. All of the ensembles perform works from the classic jazz repertoire. The more advanced jazz chamber ensembles also perform repertoire from the contemporary jazz world. These ensembles also place an emphasis on original student and faculty compositions. All ensembles are coached by members of the Hope College jazz faculty. The jazz chamber ensembles are open to anyone interested, regardless of experience with jazz.

Jazz Arts Collective is the premier large jazz ensemble at Hope College. The collective places a creative focus on ensemble communication and improvisation. Comprised of a rhythm section and flexible wind/string instrumentation, this select group performs compositions and arrangements from across the full spectrum of music. The collective's repertoire ranges from the great historical jazz composers such as Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus, to works by modern jazz masters like Vince Mendoza, Jim McNeely and John Hollenbeck. The Jazz Arts Collective frequently performs commissions, works by emerging young composers, and originals by Hope College faculty and students. The ensemble also collectively reinterprets and re-imagines the music from the 20th century classical repertoire.

The Knickerbocker Theatre is located at 86 E. Eighth St.

• Share
• Tweet
• Post