The Lionel Hampton School of Music had their first Jazz Bands & Jazz Choirs concert on Friday, October 9. The event lasted from 6:30-9:30 pm at the Administration Auditorium of UI’s main campus.
The concert featured Jazz Band I, II and III, as well as Chamber Jazz Choir and Jazz Choir I.
Valentina Bailey, a member of Jazz Choir I, said: “I think the performance went, overall, pretty good. I think our blend was really nice… and every group did very well.”
The songs followed no particular theme, giving the audience a look into the broad genre of jazz and all its possibilities.
The bands performed first in reverse number order. Each group performed several songs, all of which included solos from various student musicians.
Jenny Kellogg is the director for Jazz Band III. They featured “Sagebrush” by Annie Booth, “Blue Bossa” by Kenny Dorham and “But Beautiful” by Van Heusen and Burke and arranged by Bill Holman.
Vanessa Sielert is the director for Jazz Band II. They featured “Time After Time” by Kahn and Styne and arranged by Don Schamber, “Yearnin’” by Oliver Nelson, “Back in Time” by Pat Metheny and arranged by Bob Curnow and “Strasbourg St. Denis” by Roy Hargrove and arranged by Vern Sielert.
Sielert is the director for Jazz Band I. They featured “South of the Border” by Kennedy and Carr and arranged by Billy Byers, “Lonely Carousel” by Bob Florence, “Little Minor Booze” by Willie Maiden, “To Be Yourself” by Ryan Acheson and “The American Express” by Bob Brookmeyer.
Chamber Jazz Choir, directed by Daniel Bukvich, followed suit. They featured “Almost Like Being” by Lerner and Loewe and “Moonlight” by Suessdorf, Blackburn, Miller and Parish. Each song contained a student solo.
Jazz Choir I performed following a brief intermission. They featured “Overture 2026” and “The River” (“Song of” and “Of Dreams”) from the traditional era of jazz, and “Bella Note” by Burke and Lee.
The choir began their performance in the auditorium, shocking the audience by running through the aisles onto the stage. Attendees were later ushered to the exit of the Administration Building, where the choir continued to sing until the night came to a close.
Concert tickets were $12 for students and seniors or $14 for general admission.
“You’re really getting your money’s worth,” said Sielert. With how many songs were performed, there’s no doubt his statement was true.
For a complete program of the concert, visit the Jazz Bands & Jazz Choirs program.
Sielert also showcased a poster recently designed by Reinaldo Gil Zambrano, marking the 60th Anniversary of the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. This event will take place April 15-17 of 2027.
For more information on the festival and other events, visit UI’s events website.
Melanie Knapp can be reached at [email protected].