Eastern, music and all that jazz
Marty Finley
Issue date: 5/3/07 Section: Features
- Page 1 of 1
Jazz musician Miles Davis released one of his most well-received albums, Kind of Blue, in 1959.
In 2007, on the streets of Richmond and the campus of Eastern, the atmosphere was one the very opposite of blue. Instead, people were gathering together to laugh, talk, and listen for what's next.
What they were hearing was Jazzfest, a two day celebration of jazz music and April's Jazz Appreciation Month.
The festival, which was put together by the Music Industry Organization, spread its sounds farther than ever this year as both local businesses and the university participated.
Crawling downtown
The events began in downtown Richmond on Friday as four different vendors hosted jazz music in back-to-back installments. The coffee shop Livewire featured the Randy Westbrook Trio, a local Richmond group that plays an upbeat, groove heavy dose of jazz.
As the band began to take their instruments, people began pouring into Livewire, so much so that some patrons who were there before the band started had shocked looks on their faces.
By the time the band started playing, Livewire had given a new name to standing room only as people cheered, clapped, and danced along to the music.
One woman standing near the cashier even tapped in time to the music on a guitar case she had in her hands.
The band was silent for most of the show, stopping the music long enough to thank people sporadically and introduce the next song.
Some songs, like John Coltrane's My Favorite Things, were instantly recognized on the first note played.
Throughout the show, people talked, laughed, and matched the laidback atmosphere of the music.
However, whenever one of the musicians played a solo piece or the band upped the tempo of the music, the crowd responded by clapping or whistling to tell the band they liked what they heard.
Up the street at Woody's, the festivities continued after the Randy Westbrook Trio finished as one of the members of the trio, bassist Samuel Kruer, wheeled his equipment into the restaurant so he could perform with his other group, Swing Insight.
Like Kruer, several people who had enjoyed the first show came over to Woody's to grab a drink and hear a different brand of jazz being performed.
April Brumfield, one of the main organizers of the festival, said she wanted jazz music to be enjoyed in a small, club setting. Woody's seemed to meet the requirements.
With low ceilings and even lower lighting, the band played to the room of people. With no stage, the band set up on the floor in a corner, bringing them even closer to the people who came to see them.
After doing so, the band opened up the show playing a more traditional style of jazz, which could be likened to Miles Davis or John Coltrane. And while those artists were at their peak years before many in attendance were born, it didn't sway anyone as people packed together close to listen.
The band was also a little chattier than the Westbrook Trio.
Chad Walter, guitarist for Swing Insight, stopped to thank the sponsors, while also expressing his delight at the turnout.
"It's packed," he said. "We love it. We hope you love it".
Trumpet player Nathan Combs continued the laidback vibe by requesting some shots of Jagermesiter after a song, which brought on both cheers and laughter.
The band also reminded folks of the festivities on Saturday by referencing the $3 dollar lanyards around their necks.
"The lanyards will help you see your way tomorrow," Walter said.
Saturday swing
Eastern led the festivities on Saturday as music played from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Ravine, culminating with the Jazz Ensemble taking the Ravine stage at 4.
The band played three songs alone, with solos being performed by various members of the ensemble.
On the fourth song, Larry Nelson, a professor at Eastern and conductor of the ensemble, introduced guest musician Dave Hoffman, former member of the Ray Charles Orchestra.
Nelson showed excitement during the introduction as he discussed his friendship with Hoffman and how Hoffman had attended Nelson's first jazz gig.
He also described Hoffman's busy weekend. He had played with the Faculty Jazz Ensemble at Madison Garden on Friday night, taught a master class at Eastern on Sunday, and sat in with two local bands, Swing Insight and Speakeasy, in the Ravine.
"That's a mark of a man who loves the music," Nelson said.
Hoffman played four songs with the Ensemble that ranged in style and tempo. Several times, he teamed up with members of the ensemble to play solos back and forth while the rest of the ensemble played in sync with one another.
And, throughout his time onstage, Hoffman barely uttered a word to the audience.
"David doesn't want to talk; we're just gonna play" he said. "This is beautiful."
On the last song, Nelson picked up his saxophone and joined in with Hoffman to close the show for the crowd.
A rim-shot from the drums during the introduction of the last song led Nelson to answer with a quip.
"I'd say I'd be here all week, but I've already been here all week."
Reach Marty at marty_finley6@eku.edu
In 2007, on the streets of Richmond and the campus of Eastern, the atmosphere was one the very opposite of blue. Instead, people were gathering together to laugh, talk, and listen for what's next.
What they were hearing was Jazzfest, a two day celebration of jazz music and April's Jazz Appreciation Month.
The festival, which was put together by the Music Industry Organization, spread its sounds farther than ever this year as both local businesses and the university participated.
Crawling downtown
The events began in downtown Richmond on Friday as four different vendors hosted jazz music in back-to-back installments. The coffee shop Livewire featured the Randy Westbrook Trio, a local Richmond group that plays an upbeat, groove heavy dose of jazz.
As the band began to take their instruments, people began pouring into Livewire, so much so that some patrons who were there before the band started had shocked looks on their faces.
By the time the band started playing, Livewire had given a new name to standing room only as people cheered, clapped, and danced along to the music.
One woman standing near the cashier even tapped in time to the music on a guitar case she had in her hands.
The band was silent for most of the show, stopping the music long enough to thank people sporadically and introduce the next song.
Some songs, like John Coltrane's My Favorite Things, were instantly recognized on the first note played.
Throughout the show, people talked, laughed, and matched the laidback atmosphere of the music.
However, whenever one of the musicians played a solo piece or the band upped the tempo of the music, the crowd responded by clapping or whistling to tell the band they liked what they heard.
Up the street at Woody's, the festivities continued after the Randy Westbrook Trio finished as one of the members of the trio, bassist Samuel Kruer, wheeled his equipment into the restaurant so he could perform with his other group, Swing Insight.
Like Kruer, several people who had enjoyed the first show came over to Woody's to grab a drink and hear a different brand of jazz being performed.
April Brumfield, one of the main organizers of the festival, said she wanted jazz music to be enjoyed in a small, club setting. Woody's seemed to meet the requirements.
With low ceilings and even lower lighting, the band played to the room of people. With no stage, the band set up on the floor in a corner, bringing them even closer to the people who came to see them.
After doing so, the band opened up the show playing a more traditional style of jazz, which could be likened to Miles Davis or John Coltrane. And while those artists were at their peak years before many in attendance were born, it didn't sway anyone as people packed together close to listen.
The band was also a little chattier than the Westbrook Trio.
Chad Walter, guitarist for Swing Insight, stopped to thank the sponsors, while also expressing his delight at the turnout.
"It's packed," he said. "We love it. We hope you love it".
Trumpet player Nathan Combs continued the laidback vibe by requesting some shots of Jagermesiter after a song, which brought on both cheers and laughter.
The band also reminded folks of the festivities on Saturday by referencing the $3 dollar lanyards around their necks.
"The lanyards will help you see your way tomorrow," Walter said.
Saturday swing
Eastern led the festivities on Saturday as music played from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Ravine, culminating with the Jazz Ensemble taking the Ravine stage at 4.
The band played three songs alone, with solos being performed by various members of the ensemble.
On the fourth song, Larry Nelson, a professor at Eastern and conductor of the ensemble, introduced guest musician Dave Hoffman, former member of the Ray Charles Orchestra.
Nelson showed excitement during the introduction as he discussed his friendship with Hoffman and how Hoffman had attended Nelson's first jazz gig.
He also described Hoffman's busy weekend. He had played with the Faculty Jazz Ensemble at Madison Garden on Friday night, taught a master class at Eastern on Sunday, and sat in with two local bands, Swing Insight and Speakeasy, in the Ravine.
"That's a mark of a man who loves the music," Nelson said.
Hoffman played four songs with the Ensemble that ranged in style and tempo. Several times, he teamed up with members of the ensemble to play solos back and forth while the rest of the ensemble played in sync with one another.
And, throughout his time onstage, Hoffman barely uttered a word to the audience.
"David doesn't want to talk; we're just gonna play" he said. "This is beautiful."
On the last song, Nelson picked up his saxophone and joined in with Hoffman to close the show for the crowd.
A rim-shot from the drums during the introduction of the last song led Nelson to answer with a quip.
"I'd say I'd be here all week, but I've already been here all week."
Reach Marty at marty_finley6@eku.edu
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