The NIU School of Music hosted a vibrant five-piece guitar recital Monday.

The quintet consisted of Julio Cesar Caliman Smarcaro (guitar/vocals), Alejandro Fernandez (bass), Rodrigo Villanueva (drums), Patrick Terbrack (saxophone) and Clarice Castilho (percussion).

People of all ages packed the Recital Hall to enjoy the sound of fast-paced jazz with a Spanish/Latin feel. Each of the musicians had a strong feel for the music and was getting into it just as much as the audience was with its toe-tapping and head-bobbing.

The music was vibrant, colorful, relaxing and easy to listen to. Most of the songs had an average tempo and were longer than the typical song length. The length did not cause the audience to drift, though, as they were paying full attention throughout the entire performance.

During the performance, there were many breakdowns and solos that showcased the individual talent of the musicians, but this did not deter from the song; everything fit well and had smooth transitions from solo to song.

For most of the performance, it was mostly Smarcaro, Fernandez, Villanueva and Terbrack. Castilho only played during a few songs, but the unique instruments she played added flair to each piece.

Smarcaro cascaded through his solos with great ease as his fingers swiftly glided up and down the neck of the guitar. He added lyrics to some songs, which gave them even more color and added another element to the music.

Accents were added by Villanueva with rim shots, brushes and different cymbal sounds, and Fernandez always balanced out the bottom layer and added depth.

The Latin flavor added a uniqueness to this concert that was seemingly enjoyed by all.