On Thursday, the Boutell Memorial Concert Hall came alive as the NIU Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Orchestra performed. From the cool, intimate sound of a saxophone to the roar of the horns, the musicians played with a confidence and ease that brought the music to life.
The two ensembles, led by directors Rodrigo Villanueva (Jazz Ensemble) and Roosevelt Griffin (Jazz Orchestra), delivered a joint performance to an enthusiastic crowd.
It began with Villanueva’s Jazz Ensemble, showcasing their talent with Les Hooper’s up-tempo bebop arrangement of “Fast Forward.”
Villanueva’s free-flow conducting approach created an energy that shone brightly during the swing of “Drummin’ Man,” highlighted by the powerful and intricate feature from drummer Axel Capetillo.
The tone shifted for Duke Ellington’s ballad, “Prelude to a Kiss,” which slowed to a sweet, relaxed tempo. A romantic piano feature led by Ben Rodriguez set the mood for the piece.
Following the song, Villanueva expressed his pride and love for the ensemble.
“I’m very proud of my students. They’ve made a lot of progress in these few weeks,” Villanueva said.
The ensemble wrapped up with Horace Silver’s powerful arrangement “Nutville,” featuring Caleb Webb’s electric guitar solo, which cut through the brass with a blues-rock edge.
After a brief intermission, the NIU Jazz Orchestra took the stage. Griffin kicked off their set with “Heads Up!,” a lively, energetic piece composed by NIU jazz studies faculty member Tom Garling. This complex, technical piece established the orchestra’s heavy brass feel for their entire performance.
The orchestra then moved into “Blues for the Two Ks.” The song had a classic, cool and relaxed blues groove, led by a very strong piano feature from Isaiah Jones Jr.
For Herbie Hancock’s “The Sorcerer,” the stage belonged to the NIU Jazztet, a six-member ensemble comprised of five graduate students and one undergraduate student. The arrangement immediately made the atmosphere abstract and almost hypnotic, with the bass player providing a deep, mysterious foundation. The smaller group created an intimate sound, a contrast to the big energy provided by the rest of the songs.
The warmth returned with “Stella by Starlight,” opening with a soft, warm alto saxophone solo by Daisuke Kamiuchi. The pace built about halfway through the song, as the rhythm changed the sound grew full, eventually waning out for the conclusion.
The evening ended on a funky note with Ray Hargrove’s “Roy Allen.” Its relaxed, smooth melody was helped by a stellar trumpet solo from Carlos Simms, leaving the audience with one last jazzy groove to tap their foot to.
For those who missed the performance, they will have a chance to catch a reprise of the ensemble on Nov. 17. A livestream of the performance is also available on YouTube.
