Jazz Ensemble to swing into a new year with Big Band performance

The+Mercyhurst+Jazz+Ensemble+consists+of+music+and+non-music+majors+and+is+led+by+Scott+Meier%2C+Ph.D.

Bernard Garwig photo

The Mercyhurst Jazz Ensemble consists of music and non-music majors and is led by Scott Meier, Ph.D.

Lauren Ganger, Staff writer

The Mercyhurst University Jazz Ensemble will perform under the baton of Scott Meier, Ph.D., Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. in Taylor Little Theatre.
Meier said that the evening’s theme is “great Big Band music by people you’ve never heard of.”
The finalized set may include “Stroll at the Beach” by Elliot Deutsch, “A Greasy Brown Paper Sack” by Leslie Drayton, “We’re Just Not Delivering Pizza Anymore!” arranged by Tom Kubis, “Dancing on a Dime” by Leslie Drayton, “Bottom End Shuffle” by Ryan Haines, “Bossa de Barro” by John A. Mahoney, “Big Bad Bert” by Gerald Kuhn, and “What It Is Is What It Is” by Leslie Drayton.
When asked about the style of the music, Meier described it as “easy-going swing charts with a couple Latin charts mixed in.”
He promised that the concert “will be a ‘light’ evening of Big Band swing.”
Bernard Garwig, sophomore trombonist, said “my favorite piece we’re playing is called ‘Anticipating Colorado.’ It features the trombone section with a beautiful melodic line which then transitions into a moderate swing tempo. The piece is intended to capture the beauty of the Colorado Rockies, and we hope that the audience will feel the same way.”
Tickets to this performance are $5 for the general public and $2 for Mercyhurst students, faculty and children aged 12 and under.