The holiday season heats up with a swinging night of jazz, courtesy of TWU’s School of the Arts, Media and Culture. On December 7, SAMC Music’s Vocal Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo will perform a varied set of timeless standards with a few fun surprises along the way.
“They’re dynamic, entertaining performers,” says SAMC Music professor Jeff Warren, who directs the Jazz Combo. “Hearing these musicians play is more than an opportunity to hear great tunes, you get to watch them improvise and create new music on the spot.”
The lively group has become a popular fixture in the community, recently playing a Wellspring Foundation fundraiser that raised over $100,000. “We’re passionate about training professionals at SAMC,” Jeff explains, “and the Jazz Combo’s community engagements are a phenomenal opportunity for them to pair solid musicianship with professional experience.”
The evening’s entertainment spans genres like swing, Latin, modern, and 1950s “cool jazz.” The 10-voice Vocal Jazz Ensemble will open with favourites such as Unforgettable and What a Wonderful World. Among the concert’s fresh offerings are new arrangements for the Jazz Combo by talented 3rd-year student Vincent Clements. Vincent, a multi-instrumentalist who hails from Fort Langley, penned the horn arrangements for tunes like Miles Davis’ Kello. It’s a busy year for the multi-talented Music major, who also plays with TWU’s Klezmer Ensemble November 30 and will anchor the band with his bassline for SAMC’s spring production of Fiddler on the Roof.
Event at a glance
Date: Wednesday, December 7
Time: 7:30 pm
Place: Instrumental Music Hall, TWU Music Building
Tickets: Admission by donation ($5 suggested)
Contact: Shayna Leenstra p: 604.513.2173 e: Shayna.Leenstra@twu.ca
For more SAMC news and events, visit www.twu.ca/samc.