Every member of the Southwestern College jazz and guitar ensemble had a chance to shine and communicate their musical passion for one “Latin Jazz Night.”
Directed by music professor Jorge Pastrana, the concert showcased the talent that exists among the student musicians of SWC. For some, it was their last recital at SWC.
Each musical piece came with an explanation from Pastrana, who provided historical context with great sense of humor. He used simple expressions to let the audience know what would come next. In a sense, Pastrana’s job was to hype the audience and smooth out the transition to prevent genre whiplash. He also made sure to name drop the performers to get their fans ready.
With “Solfege Canon No.1,” the guitar ensemble started the night with a well-rehearsed piece in which all guitars were listed in unison. “The Shallow of Your Smile” had Oskar Oyoque play a magnificent guitar solo that made the audience cheer. Both pieces brought out the beauty of the instrument.
After the guitarist’s performance and a brief intermission, the jazz group appeared on stage wearing black clothing and sitting on a bench that allowed the audience to see all 26 members of the ensemble.
The ensembles played seven songs, starting off with a rendition of “Misirlou,” arranged by Saul Garcia, member of the ensemble.
The solos of a flutist, trombonist, pianist, guitarist and trumpetist made the audience appreciate what real jazz is. During the performance, Pastrana would tell each member when it would be their time to play a short solo. Performers would stand up, with the light and attention focused on them, and show what they brought to the night. The arrangement sounded amazing, and the instruments ,along with the musicians, had their moments.
But, trumpeters and trombonists stole the show by having energetic solos in each of the performed songs.
In the piece “Desafinado,” Tungching Yim passionately sang in Portuguese. The audience perfectly appreciated her voice despite the strong presence of trumpets and drums.
With the song “Tristeza,” three singers came in front of the stage and accompanied the ensemble. With charming and elegant voices, they synchronized among themselves and with the group. It felt like all the presentations were leading up to “Tristeza,” a connection between all of the members was noticeable. Catchy rhythm and lyrics made the piece enjoyable. It was a fascinating display of talent and effort.
