By Bri Spencer / The Jambar
A crowd gathered at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27 in Bliss Hall’s Spotlight Theater to hear two Youngstown State University jazz combos perform eight songs.
The jazz combos consisted of two groups, a trio and a sextet. The trio was composed of Aaron White on piano, bassist Nick Steeves and drummer Evan Stefancin.
The trio was under the direction of Glenn Schaft, who helped arrange and compose three of the five songs played by the group. Musical pieces included “Groundhawg,” “Naima” and “Tin Man’s House.” Schaft also played conga drums on a couple of songs with the band.
The sextet was comprised of six members under the direction of Kent Engelhardt. The group consisted of trumpet player Niko Kowalick, saxophonist Nick Komara, guitarist Osa Omoregie, Carter Ulery on piano, Javin Shafer on bass and Anthony DeMain on drums.
Although it’s DeMain’s first year participating in the jazz combos, he said the combos’ small groups allow the audience to enjoy their sets.
“Some of the charts we’re playing, they sound good because it’s not that many people,” DeMain said. “It’s more for the people that don’t like to have the loudness of big bands that can listen to great jazz music and not have to worry about all the loud sound with all the brass and stuff.”
DeMain began playing jazz music in the eighth grade and said he continues to stick with the genre of music because of the basics of jazz.
“Jazz was the first genre of music that I fell in love with … It’s my building blocks [for] everything because jazz is just one of those genres that it’s timeless. It’s been around since the 1920s and it’s still made today. It’s just one of those genres I just love hearing,” DeMain said.
Engelhardt, a music professor at YSU as well as a performer, composer, arranger and author, said he helps decide through auditions how the jazz combo bands will work together.
“It’s learning about small group jazz and different styles and different periods from different composers, and how to work together in a unit like that,” Engelhardt said. “There’s so many different approaches to it, and we kind of have to find a little niche for each group of people and see how they work together. Everything’s very personal.”
Group members are matched based on similar abilities and experiences. Engelhardt said the sextet combo band performs blues, American songbook and jazz standards, finding a balance between challenge and success.
Membership of the jazz combos is determined by auditions held at the beginning of the school year, and participants can choose to join combos, big bands or contemporary groups.
The jazz combo bands will be performing throughout April, with a jazz ensemble concert April 5 at Conneaut Jazz Cafe in Linesville, Pennsylvania.
The final two performances for the month will take place April 19 with the jazz ensemble of Valley Christian Schools and April 21 at the Spotlight Theater in Bliss Hall.