Students Impress at "Jazz Night"

by Ed & Patti Gallagher, PPAG Reviewers

A wonderful event took place Saturday evening, April 11th, at the Olde Town Carriage House. Al Eberhardt brought two magnificent Jazz Bands from Colorado State University-Pueblo to a better environment for jazz.. Hoag Hall, at the University, is a very good venue for many shows but it does not lend itself to a performance of jazz bands. On the other hand, the Olde Town Carriage house is perfect because of its casual atmosphere with many tables for refreshments and a dance floor that allowed people to “get up” and dance to the super music including one father who danced with his child who was about two years old..

The evening included two different bands, CSU-Pueblo Jazz II, with Al Eberhardt directing and the CSU-Pueblo Jazz I directed by Brad Eastin. Jazz II played seven numbers from Bluff Point (John La Barbera) to You and Me Against the World (Paul Williams) to Sidewinder (Lee Morgan). All arrangements were so very “danceable.” It amazed me that most of the members of the band were students with only a few “pros” sitting in. Brad Eastin conducted the Jazz I group with nine numbers, less familiar jazz (less familiar to me), with several arrangements by Bill Holman (Arranger for Stan Kenton). And the dancing continued.

I was particularly impressed with Speak Low (K. Weill and Bill Holman), but there was great enthusiasm expressed by the audience for each number. Soloists, too many to mention, were unbelievably outstanding. I, coming to Colorado from Los Angeles, believe that both of these groups would be sensations in L.A.
The University has a superb Jazz Section in the Music School. With such outstanding professionals as Al Eberhardt and Brad Eastin (both alumni from the Air Force Academy Band) leading the teaching of jazz performance, the University needs to publicize the music department much more.

Al Eberhardt stated that these performances, in cooperation with the Olde Town Carriage House, are planned to be monthly events. Watch for the dates. Don’t miss the next one…You will not regret one minute of this experience.