High hats sizzle and horns blare in the small room where one of LBCC’s big bands is practicing for their jazz concert on Dec. 8 during which they will be paying homage to jazz legend Thad Jones and will be joined by saxophonist Kirsten Edkins.
“We’ve been rehearsing for about a month,” director Patrick Sheng said.
The choice to pay homage to Thad Jones, trumpeter and composer, was deliberate and a nod to jazz history.
“Thad Jones used to play with his band on Mondays at the Village Vanguard (a prominent New York jazz club),” Sheng said, “ (LBCC’s) Big band practices on Mondays.”
During the show, the bands will be joined on stage by Kirtsen Edkins, a saxophonist, educator and recording artist.
Throughout her career, Edkins has made an effort to uplift the next generation of jazz musicians.
Part of what draws her to jazz music is the way in which musicians are able to tell a story through their songs.
Given the complex nature of jazz music, Thad Jones’s pieces in particular, learning the tunes for Friday’s show was a challenge to some of the students, but a labor of love nonetheless.
“It’s been fun,” said Jocelyn Beery who plays the trumpet and sings, “I really hope my dad enjoys it.”
Beery, who has a vocal solo in the show, says the ability to perform makes her feel close to her father who’s a percussionist.
For other students, like Vaughn Forsyth a former member of the U.S. Army band from 1966 to 1969, the opportunity to play and perform is a welcome respite from his busy day to day life.
Sheng hopes that lovers of jazz music will enjoy the show and gain a new appreciation for the musicians at LBCC.
He also hopes that the show will inspire younger musicians to continue to pursue their endeavors.
The show is at 7 p.m. on Friday and free to students with an active ASB sticker.