University of Michigan’s SMTD Jazz Ensemble
Rackham Auditorium
October 23, 8:00 p.m.
On Thursday, UM’s Jazz Ensemble put on their ‘Big Swing Face’ and transformed the Rackham Auditorium into a nostalgic 1940’s concert hall. The concert showcased mostly contemporary pieces of up-and-coming big band composers, such as Christine Jensen and Alan Ferber, but paid homage to classic favorites like Duke Ellington and Leonard Bernstein.
I was disappointed that of the 22 musicians in the ensemble, zero of them were girls, especially considering that it is not an “all-boys only” group. Nevertheless, the musicians gave an outstanding performance. Each soloist perfectly intertwined their own creativity and soul with the common themes and emotions of each piece, and passed the improv torch between each other effortlessly. Even when there wasn’t a solo, the collective group played with a very colorful energy. The ensemble jumped right into the swing of things with Bill Potts’ “Big Swing Face,” a piece that showed off the ensemble’s brilliant talent from the first measure. Music Director Ellen Rowe had so much trust in her group that she stepped to the side and let the group take full command of the audience.
A highlight of the performance was the Duke Ellington piece, “Day Dream,” which truly painted a picture of love-filled haze in my mind. The ensemble accompanied U of M student Lauren Scales, whose vocal range and singing talents are off the charts! I could close my eyes and pretend that I was in a smoky bar with Ella and Billie serenading me until dusk.
Overall, the concert was fantastic, but that should be expected from the top Jazz Ensemble on campus! Mostly, the audience was made up of parents and other relatives of the musicians. The pep and nostalgic atmosphere is a must for students who have ever suffered from “Midnight in Paris” syndrome and wish that they could time-travel to an earlier decade, and perfect for a free escape from the campus world. I definitely recommend staying up to date on when their next concert is! You’ll be jumpin’ and jivin’ all night.
