SMSU Jazz Band Performs for Fine Arts Month

With a year full of “colorful” tunes, guest artists and hard work, the Southwest Minnesota State University Jazz Ensemble finished their season on Monday, Apr. 22 as part of the 2013 Fine Arts Celebration.

Under the direction of Dr. John Ginocchio, the ensemble performed in their sixth and final performance of the semester with several tunes. The set list included tunes from last semester’s color theme, tunes performed alongside guest artists and some newly learned.

Songs performed included “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, “Orange Sherbert” by Sammy Nestico, “On Green Dolphin Street” by Bronislau Kaper and Ned Washington and “Black, Brown and Beautiful” by Oliver Nelson.

The ensemble included tunes written by guest artists – “Manteca” by Dizzy Gillespie and Chano Pozo (arrangement by guest trombone artist, James Borowski), “Stars Fell on Alabama” by Mitchell Parish and Frank Perkins (arrangement by guest saxophone artist, Antonio Hart) and “Like My Own” written by Hart.

“Until I Met You” by Freddie Green and Don Wolf, “Mind the Gap” by Joe Pappas, “The Wiggle Walk” by Benny Carter and “Cerezo Rosa” by Marcel Louiguy were also included in the set list.

Members of the Jazz Ensemble include Candle DiSanto, Amy Nelson, Justin Condelli, Kimberly Lynner and Austin Schmidt on saxophone; Vicki Bruns, Zack Kilian, Terry Louwagie and Kim Watkins on trumpet; Maxx Louwagie on trombone; and Noah Anderson, Joseph Pfannschmidt, Katie Carter, Nathan Goetsch, Alex Munsterman and Richard Obermann on rhythm/percussion.

The performance is one of many events being held throughout Fine Arts Celebration month, with the schedule listed at http://www.smsu.edu/today/?articleid=2562