Ensemble jams with mixed flavor

The mountain of melody heard through the campus rain last Thursday night came from the Gerald Daniel Recital Hall as the Cal State Long Beach Studio Ensemble jammed out a big band style jazz concert that Tommy Dorsey would have probably danced to in his seat.

From the saxophones, trombones, rhythm section, trumpets and drums came a fervor of sound.

At the start, the saxophones blasted out and then together melted into the steady pounding of the drums.

Joining in at that point, the trumpets loudly synchronized an elevating anthem that climaxed to euphoric heights.

At a split second of silence, an uninhibited drum solo gone mad, followed by a piano that kicked in at the same time kept the music flowing. The saxophones again joined and before long it was Dixieland, U.S.A.

The ensemble took the audience back to the big band era of music.

Perhaps visions of "The Lawrence Welk Show" or Benny Goodman came to many minds.

Directed by Buddy Collette, the Ensemble played ten songs for a packed house where the audience clapped enthusiastically throughout.

The compositions included "April Skies," "Cruisin' For a Bluesin'," "Donna Lee," "Groove Blues," "Her Happy Tuesdays," "Lazy Bird," "A Little Minor Booze," "Murphy's Law," "Speaking of Ken" and "Three More Foxes."

All songs were played with precision and clarity.

Each Ensemble musician had a solo and the band, holding true to the holiday spirit, let familiar Christmas melodies flow, solo style.

The saxophone section included Paul Navidad and Tim Wu on the Alto.

Dave Najar and Ron Segovia played tenor and Jason Stone was on baritone, reads the program.

Directly behind them sat trombone players Francisco Torres, Jill DeWeese, John Zavala, Kerry Loeschen and Greg Flores.

Standing up in the back row Pat Mullen, Corneliu Olariu, Tim Walsh and Scott Steward horned out the trumpets.

The rhythm section was the glue that held the band together.

On guitar was Nick Johnson and the bass player was Sam Montooth.

Pianist Clint Rusich and drum machine Dusty Haner III seemed to communicate well besides sounding truly professional.

Halfway through the show, as the band took a five minute break, Buddy Collette pulled out a clarinet and jammed with the rhythm section.

Started in 1974, The Long Beach Music/Jazz Studies Program was the first state-supported university program of its kind on the west coast, according to information put out by the studies program.

College students today, who have supposedly forgotten about the sweet old style jazz of yesteryear or the overwhelming presence of a big band, sure found time to show up Thursday night, rain and all.