NWC News Desk

Jazz Band II and Guitar Ensembles perform Tuesday, May 5, at NWC

Posted April 27, 2015
By NWC News Desk

POWELL, Wyo. ─ Northwest College’s Jazz Band II and two guitar ensembles perform a diverse collection of music in a 7:30 p.m. concert Tuesday, May 5, in the Nelson Performing Arts Center Auditorium.

The Cody Guitar Ensemble, under the tutelage of Jeff Troxel, starts things off with a trio of tunes including the traditional folk song “Cold Frosty Morn” and “House of the Rising Sun,” the “gritty, bluesy” signature song made famous by The Animals, a 1960s British band. They’ll close their set with the familiar Haitian folk song, “Yellow Bird.”

The NWC Guitar Ensemble delves into the genres of Baroque; Gypsy jazz, samba and blues; and world music. Their repertoire includes “Air” by Rameau, “Samba Do, Samba Don’t” and “The Equine’s Ox” by Buzzelli, “Los Andes” by Carbajo and Troxel’s arrangement of “Minor Swing,” by Reinhardt.

The combined ensembles will perform the Lennon/McCartney hit, “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da.”

Under the direction of Craig Olson, NWC’s Jazz Band II continues the fun with Eddie Harris’ driving Latin chart, “Cold Duck,” then flips the mood and brings in a flute feature with a bossa nova groove on Luiz Bonfa’s “Gentle Rain.” Don Menza’s “Groovin’ Hard” shines the spotlight on the sax section, and “Steppin’ Up,” a rock tune by Eric Richards, rounds out the set. 

Admission is free and open to the public.