Three Combos, Three Styles of Jazz

Every semester produces three jazz combos, composed of the best student players, each named after the day of the week they rehearse. But the three that will perform on Sunday, October 28 at the Fulkerson Recital Hall also each have a characteristic style.

The Monday Combo “is the most mainstream,” says Dan Aldag, HSU Music assistant professor who directs the combos. “They’re playing jazz standards such as Errol Garner’s ‘Misty,’ ‘Barbara’ by Horace Silver, and ‘Triste’ by Antonio Carlos Jobim. They will also play an original blues tune by the group’s guitarist, Ali Chaudhary.

The Wednesday Combo “is taking soul and funk tunes like Stevie Wonder’s ‘Boogie On, Reggae Woman’ and Bill Withers’ ‘Use Me,’ and adapting them to the jazz idiom,” Aldag said, “ in the same way that earlier generations of jazz musicians played the pop songs of their time.”

Friday’s Combo “is the most tapped into the leading edge of current jazz. They are performing Steve Swallow's ‘Bend Over Backward’, an original by theirpianist Joel Bettencourt and a contemporary arrangement of John Coltrane's ’Impressions.’"

All three Jazz Combos perform on October 27, beginning at 8pm, at Fulkerson Hall on the HSU campus. Tickets are $7 general, $3 students and seniors, from HSU Ticket Office (826-3928) or at the door. HSU students free with ID.

The players in the Monday Combo are Clay Carey (tenor sax), Ali Chaudhary (guitar), Maia Wiitala (bass) and Gabriel Ben-Shalom (drums.) Wednesday Combo is Brian Jones (alto sax and vocals), Trevor Wendel (guitar), Cullen Miller (bass) and Chris Kaller (drums.)The Friday Combo is Sky Miller (tenor sax), Joel Bettencourt (piano), Bobby Amirkhan (bass) andMike Munroe (drums.)