Courtesy of Lorenzo Manera / Pexels
By Nena Lopez
Great American music roared to life as the Southwestern College Vocal Jazz Ensemble took a cross-country journey during its Coast-to-Coast Jazz Cafe concert.
An annual tradition since 2011 directed by vocal music instructor Tracy Burklund, this year’s Jazz Café was uplifting and full of fun. Burklund’s Coast-to-Coast theme gave listeners a taste of music from Hawaii, the West Coast, Midwest, New England and the global hotbed of musical innovation, New Orleans.
Jazz Café gave students ranging from beginner to advanced opportunities to learn through performance. The lineup featured five group numbers and 12 soloists. It kicked off with a booming rendition of the John Kander and Fred Ebb standard “Theme from New York, New York” and the journey was underway.
Tenor Anthony Mack killed it on Louis Armstrong’s “Basin Street Blues,” evoking a swampy evening in the Big Easy that would have had Satchmo himself snap his fingers.
“There’s something about being in choirs you just can’t get anywhere else,” Mack said. “Music is very therapeutic, and I feel like it’s something that we need. I never saw myself taking singing seriously, but now that I’ve been in (the choir) for about a year and a half, it’s something I’ve grown to love.”
Reena Fernandez agreed.
“I had no knowledge at all of music other than just karaoke,” she said. “We sang loudly and obnoxiously for fun.”
She said she has embraced the artistry of singing required to perform jazz numbers for a paying audience. Battling nerves is the hardest part, she said.
“Just pushing yourself to do it,” Fernandez said, “That’s still something I have to work through.”
Her trio of performances transcended any nervousness. Fernandez appeared confident soloing on “Moonlight in Vermont” and leading a small group that called itself “The Pips” in honor of the legendary Gladys Knight’s backup singers who supported Laura Carter’s sterling performance of “Midnight Train to Georgia.”
Fernandez soloed in a self-directed acapella group that performed a lovely version of “Detour Ahead.” She showed poise and some on-your-feet decision making when her microphone stopped working. She shared with an ensemble member.
“When you have friends, it’s easier to do things together,” she said. “It’s a back and forth of support and music.”
Bass Marco Ruffo said the mic snafu was a nice illustration of the group’s friendly chemistry.
“This ensemble really is a bunch of people coming together and being one rather than trying to have someone specific stand out.” he said.
Ruffo evoked The King with his charismatic rendition of the Elvis Presley hit “Blue Hawaii” in a strong, rich voice. Ruffo said he is an aspiring voice actor and enjoyed the opportunity to play menacing Oggie Boogie from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” during a previous Jazz Café show.
Burklund teamed up with Professor of Theater Arts Ruff Yeager for a duet on the Frank Sinatra chestnut “Let’s Get Away From It All.” Mariachi director Jeff Nevin played trumpet behind them as Burklund and Yeager clearly enjoyed a chance to have a few moments of fun during a trying semester. Their voices blended so well that they should consider taking their act on the road.
“Doing this kind of music is very much fun for me, very exciting,” Burlund said. “It doesn’t feel like work.”
Burklund said she was once a student in the Jazz Ensemble. After she earned her degree in music she was asked to fill in for her former professor while she was on maternity leave.
“I came in to cover… and never left,” she said
Her students and local vocal music fans are glad the talented teacher and director stayed. Burklund encouraged more students to take this opportunity and join the Jazz Ensemble.
“If anybody’s interested in joining us, come check us out. You don’t need any experience, just a love for singing.”
