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It's possible a future Dizzy Gillespie or Duke Ellington was in our midst Tuesday night.
That night, the Rutgers Jazz Ensemble of The Mason Gross School of the Arts held its first jazz concert of the year in the Multipurpose Room of the Rutgers Student Center on the College Avenue campus.
The 22-member ensemble showcased the music of Gerald Wilson and Benny Golson, two skilled American jazz composers who have both appeared at Mason Gross in the past as guest conductors. They left their music with Mason Gross Director Ralph Bowen, who played with both musicians. A lot of the music they left for Mason Gross was used in this concert, Bowen said.
"It was inspirational music to play," Bowen said about the annual concert series, "[The concert] was a technical and interpretational challenge."
The concert featured nine pieces - seven composed by Wilson, two by Golson. It displayed an eclectic variety of jazz music, including a Spanish-flavored piece called "Viva Tirado" by Wilson and a slow, stylish piece called "Then Came Who?" by Golson.
Each piece contained one or more solos from saxophone, trombone, trumpet, piano, guitar, drum and bass players. At one point in the concert, Bowen joked about the "alto saxophone stylings" of soloist Brad Leali, a first-year graduate student.
"The ensemble played very well. We had great solos. We've been good since the band first came together," Leali said.
Graduate student Corey Rawls, a drummer in the ensemble, said, "It was fun. The group seemed like they were having a good time."
Many band members bobbed their heads and tapped their toes during the performance. Matt Montagna, a first-year Mason Gross student, said he was "really feelin' it tonight."
A number of audience members joined in, clapping loudly after intricate solos and moving their bodies to the beat. Bowen was happy with the turnout.
"We had a lot of music students come over here but we also attracted other college students. This particular venue proves to be positive," Bowen said.
After only six rehearsals, the ensemble gelled into a group of happy-go-lucky students who eagerly showcased their talents to the small crowd in the first concert of the semester, Bowen said.
"We had a lot of fun doing it," Montagna said, "I was playing with players that were a lot better then me, but it motivates me and makes me want to work even more. It was a positive experience," he said.
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