On November 13, I went to GHM to see the CU Jazz Combo Showcase. It encased three different jazz combos, which played different 3-4 arrangements a piece. The three bands, in the order in which they played, were the Andy Nevala Combo, The CU Early Jazz Combo, and Pagan Rhythms. Each group had only one female and the rest were men, which made the women stand out in a brave bold way. .
The Andy Nevala Combo started the night off with their six-piece group. They had Katie Glassman, the violinist, dead center with the two saxes on either side. I haven't heard much violin in Jazz so I thought it added a spectacular flavor to the music. The Guitar, Bass, and Drums were in the back mixing it up doing their own thing. In there first song Donna Lee, by Charlie Parker, each instrument soloed, except bass and drums, starting with the tenor sax. The guitarist, Scott Hall sounded a little off sometimes, but when he was on WOW! .
The CU Early Jazz Combo kept things rolling along with seven instruments and five songs, instead of four like the Nevala Combo. They too had the only female in the group, Lindy Vanlandingham, middle stage. With the trombone to her lips and the trumpeter and clarinetist by her sides they filled the air with music, but of course not without the help of the banjo, bass, piano, and drums. The CU Combo had a string bass, unlike the Nevala group, that enveloped the back middle pat of the stage.
Last but certainly not least the Pagan Rhythms, directed by Michael Pagan Himself, finished the night off with there booming sound. Similar to the Early Jazz Combo, Pagan Rhythms had seven musicians and five songs. They were the only group to not play their songs in the order shown on the program, which I liked. Also they were the only group in which the female in the group was not in the middle. On top of all that they were the only group in which one of the musicians played two different instruments.
