Pictured: Students performing at the URI jazz combos. PHOTO CREDIT: Connor Zisk | Staff Photographer
The Fine Arts Center held their 64th fine arts event in the concert hall featuring two Jazz Combos on Tuesday, March 7 coordinated by Emmett Goods, the assistant professor of music and teacher in jazz trombone.
The two groups featured were Cubop Ensemble and URI Standards Combo. Cubop Ensemble was coached by Zaccai Curtis, an Artist/Teacher in Jazz Piano and Jazz and Commercial Music Composition. URI Standards was coached by Dave Zinno, an Artist/Teacher in Jazz String Bass. Each combo played three songs each with a strong sound and many solos from each instrument played.
Cubop’s songs were “Blue Skies,” “Afro Blue” and “Blue Minor.” Each song had a similar loud vibe with each instrument in harmony like it was just one sound.
As well as having the standard jazz instruments – saxophone, trumpet, trombone, bass, piano and drums – Cubop included conga drums in the background which gave a rich tone with each song.
Every song displayed solos from all instruments but mainly trumpet and saxophone. Every solo got whoops and applause from the audience because the rhythm was consistent and the riffs were structured well.
After Cubop’s set, URI Standards went next. Their songs were “Simone,” “Whisper Not” and “Yatra Tá.” They also included a vocalist for “Whisper Not” and “Yatra Tà.”
All three songs also had a similar sound. “Simone” started out slow and increased into a full blast with trumpets playing the loudest. “Whisper Not” featured lyrics to set the tone of the song. After a while, both trumpets and saxophones had solos to accompany the words.
Lastly, “Yatra Tà” had the same loud tone but instead of lyrics, the vocalist was scatting. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, scatting is made up of facial expressions and improvised syllables on a melody.
Like Cubop, there were many solos from each instrument, most of them were played by trumpets and saxophones. Each solo had a steady beat and incorporated chords ranging from high to low notes.
Joey Peavey, a third year, studying music therapy and jazz performance and the guitarist for URI Standards, said the band is made up of great musicians and loves playing with them.
“Dave is a wonderful instructor because he knows exactly what he’s doing,” Peavey said.
Not only was the concert open to students, the general public also came. Admission was $10 for students and seniors, $15 for adults, and free for children.
The audience was made up of friends of the musicians, other URI students, seniors and adults. Everyone was bobbing their heads to the beat of the music.
At the end of the performance, there were cheers and applause across the concert hall.
Additionally, The Fine Arts Center website said their next event is on Saturday, March 25 at 3 p.m. It features two musical artists: Manabu Takasawa, a pianist and Yuriko Fauro, a soprano singer presenting a lecture/recital on music in Japanese incarceration camps.
Other upcoming events can be found on the Fine Arts Center website and tickets can be bought through the Eventbrite app.