LBCC kickstarted a music-filled weekend on Friday with the Vocal Jazz and Big Band Concert directed by Andrea Calderwood and Patrick Sheng.
This semester-leading event has been in preparation since August.
“For all the ensemble classes, we always have a built-in concert at the end of the semester,” Sheng said. “During the first days we let them know in the syllabus that these are required dates and the concert is kinda like their final.”
The show itself started a little after 7 p.m., with seats filling quickly and a line to get in snaking out the door. The audience had local members of Long Beach, as well as students and alumni.
Poinsettia flowers lined the main stage along with Christmas lights, creating a holiday setting for the winter show.
Numerous instruments were on stage including a grand piano, drums, trombone and other various jazz instruments.
As the lights dimmed, director Andrea Calderwood came out to welcome everyone to the show, which began with the vocal talent segment, The Evening Jazz Choir.
With the performers dressed in red and black, the set consisted of four songs. The first song was “Revelations” by Carol Welsman with Kevin Kearney on the piano.
The Evening Jazz Choir concluded the show’s opening act with a performance of the song, “Cow Cow Boogie,” where a mix of several performers sang small solos giving a cappella feel, while still incorporating the rhythms of jazz.
The second act, The Lyrical Workers, started off with the song “Teach Me Tonight,” arranged by Calderwood. The advanced group is noted for its talent by being given the opportunity to travel as well as perform at big shows such as Generational concerts, Pasadena Racial Justice, Black History Month shows and many more.
The group ranged in vocal talents and Sara Cooper, one of the members, had a few solos throughout their act showcasing her voice by hitting numerous high notes. The ensemble ended its segment with the song “Never Giving Up” and were met with loud applause and cheers from the audience.
The final act was performed by the LBCC Big Band ensemble, directed by Sheng. The band consisted of various instruments filling the stage, each performer decked out in Christmas attire.
The band began its act with the song “Whirly Bird” by Neal Hefti.
In the middle of the set, Sheng gave a chance for fellow ensemble alumni to stand up in the audience. About ten of them were among the audience, and one of those ten was Peter Estrada.
“I was impressed with the Big Band performance, it’s great that the program is still going strong with so much more talent than when I was a student, Patrick has really made the music classes have a name for itself,” Estrada said.
The Big Band performed a total of eight songs. During “Wolverine Blues” by Jelly Roll Morton, Sheng had made note that there has not been a tap dancing number in over five years performed on stage. He then brought out a lone student dancer to tap dance along to the song.
During the last few performances of the concert, The Lyrical Workers and Big Band collaborated on stage. Singer Sara Cooper, performed a solo along with the Big Band during the sing “All or Nothing at All” by Jack Lawrence and Arthur Altman. The performance went on to receive high praise from the audience.
The show concluded with a final song called “Snow Samba” by Paquito D’Rivera. Together, both ensembles performed the closing act putting on a display of every jazz instrument featured on stage.
Taking a final bow, all the members thanked the audience for performing and congratulating Calderwood and Sheng.
“It’s been a crazy and fun time, organizing the show with so much going on, glad to see how it all came together,” Calderwood said after the show.