On March 28th 2019, I attended a concert at UBC in the noon hours featuring the UBC Jazz Ensemble. Since this was the last performance by the group for the academic year of 2018-2019 it featured a guest soloist on the Baritone Saxophone named Chad Makela. He is a well-rounded baritone saxophone player who specializes in jazz music across North America; therefore his addition to the ensemble was much valued by the performers as well as the audience. This was one of my first times at a jazz concert and I was happily surprised to hear such upbeat music that made me want to tap my feet.
The symphony consisted of a string quartet along with brass and percussion instruments, which was is a style of orchestral symphony developed in the 18th century accentuated by Mozart. Throughout the performance the drum and cello players maintained a steady rhythm that allowed the other instruments to control the developing sound through contrast and reconciliation. The conductor, Fred Stride seemed to play a miniscule role yet was a prominent feature on the stage, guiding the symphony through minute gestures.
The first song performed is called Tiptoe by Thad Jones, it was a compilation of bass, trombones, piano and drums. The melody was a largely high pitched and upbeat composition with allotted solos for the piano, trumpet and drums. The exposition begins with a fast passed movement that plunged the audience straight into the music. This polyphonic instrumental structure soon merged into a singular rhythmic homophony that eliminated the noise and clutter that the first section enveloped. As the piece advanced the pace slowed down just as the 2nd movement began at a moderate pace.
The second piece Easy to love by Cole Porter followed a similar structure and rhythm, as the first one, leaving the audience feeling like it was a continuation. However between the second and third piece the trumpets replaced the saxophones on stage and Chad Makela joined the ensemble.
The third piece Celebration Suite by Bob Bookmeyer was by far my favorite. Chad Makela maneuvered the saxophone to play in harmony with the other instruments, which is unusual as he was used to playing as a soloist. He worked against and with the brass instrument players such as trombones, trumpets as well as piano sounds creating a rage of pitches to enthrall the audience. This piece consisted of four movements, “the jig”, “slow dance” “remembering” and “Two And”. In the slow dance section Chad Makela performed a solo in which he played his saxophone exactly according to the rhythm of other bass players creating a homophonic sound, which was highly enjoyable. He was lead by the trumpet players who set a base for each section of the movement. Remembering on the other hand was the only movement in the entire performance that consisted of a slow pace and sad undertone led by the pianist and followed by the orchestral ensemble.
For my first ever-Jazz concert my experience was largely satisfying. In the beginning the symphony of disparagingly diverse sounds created a mild confusion regarding the rhythm and theme, which left me bewildered, however as the pieces picked up my hesitance cleared up.