The Ferris State Jazz Band hosted its fall concert which pulsed with creativity, bringing classic tunes with bold new interpretations to celebrate the spirit of jazz.
The jazz band showcased their talents to a crowd of 135 people in the Williams Auditorium. This traditional concert showcased fresh energy through the art of musical expression.
Jazz Band director and associate professor of music Matt Moresi chose the list of music for this fall’s jazz band concert due to the new and fun aspects of performing and listening to the selection of music.
“I just go through and listen to songs that I think are fun and entertaining and try to find things that I think the band can play too,” Moresi said. “I always want to try to infuse new things in there for me to learn.”
Moresi used the song “Riverscape” by internationally noted jazz composer Fred Strum as an example of the fun use of the different rhythmic instruments that can be played.
The band doesn’t always have rhythmic instruments like a guitar, piano and vibraphone, so this concert was able to utilize those instruments.
Digital animation and game design sophomore Rylynn Haatala played the drums and vibraphone. She enjoyed the opportunity to play songs like Riverscapes, which had a different sound than usual.
“It was fun to learn,” Hautala said. “It was very long, very complicated, but I want challenges, so I had fun with it.”
Dental hygiene freshman Sophie Anderson attended the jazz concert for the first time and had a good time while supporting her friends.
“I personally enjoyed it so much. If I had one word to like describe it, it would be phenomenal,” Anderson said. “ I liked the variation, but I also liked having some common themes between all of them.”
Anderson was just one person out of the many in the crowd supporting the jazz band.
Accounting sophomore Stacy Bell was one of the saxophone players in the jazz band. This is her first year in the band and her first concert. She had the support of her softball team in the crowd.
She felt like there were many people in the crowd for her first concert and was grateful that her team was there to listen to her play.
”I got a lot of support,” Bell said. “They were all very supportive and interactive.”
Moresi felt there were more people out in the crowd than usual. He even estimated a lower number of supporters in the crowd this fall concert than the actual attendance.
“It was appreciated that the audience was interactive tonight in a respectful way,” Moresi said. “It makes it more fun and enjoyable for the band and I hope for the audience too.”
The jazz band will be hosting another concert on Wednesday, Dec. 4, before the semester ends.