MHS Jazz Combo: Night at Jazz Club – Concert #48

A great time was had by all those who attended the Malta High School Jazz Combo concert last Tuesday night, February 15.

Over the short period of time that I have been covering the band/choir concerts, I have come to expect the unexpected. Especially from the band director, Mr. Eric Engebretson. He seems to come up with some very creative things to do for the band. So when the house lights went down and the stage lights came up, the only band members on the stage were Krista Meisdalen at the piano/synthesizer, Jon Siewing at the vibes, and Taylor Score on the drum set. The rest of the band members were scattered around the auditorium, sitting among the crowd and standing in the aisles. A creative way to start the show.

The first song listed on the program was We Will Rock You by Queen which has a very distinctive beginning by the drums. Two hits on the bass drum followed by one hit on the snare, bump, bump, tap. Taylor Score started to play. Bump, bump, tap. Then he waited for a long time. Again, bump, bump, tap. Another long pause. Meanwhile, Mr. E. was walking all over the stage, off stage, back on stage. Bump, bump, tap. Mr. E. finally stopped and informed the crowd that he is supposed to play the bass guitar for the first song and he had misplaced his sheet music. After a couple more bump, bump, taps, the music was found and Mr. Score could play the beat as it was meant to be played. The rest of the band started playing while they made their way onto the stage and the rest of the song went completely as it was meant to be.

The rest of the night went off without a hitch. The other three songs of the first set the band played were a song called Brooklyn by the Youngblood Brass Band, Blues By Five, by Miles Davis, and they finished with Put It Where You Want It, by the Crusaders.

The second set the band played had a very strong Miles Davis feel to it. Davis was known for a style called cool jazz. A style that emerged in the United States in the late '40s. The term cool derives from what journalists of the time perceived as an understated or subdued feeling in the music.

While the first song of the second set was Red Clay, by Freddie Hubbard, the last three songs were all Miles Davis. Freddie Freeloader, All Blues, and they finished with Summertime. The last song was arranged a little differently by Mr. E.

The rest of the band, other than the three that were on stage to begin the night were; Isaac Helms/Bass, Mady Bain/Clarinet, Eion Estill/Trombone, Ashlynn Morser/Flute, Justine Lamb/Alto Sax, Connor Tuss/Trumpet, Bow Sainlouis/Trumpet, and Tia Siewing/Euphonium.

As always, the talented kids of Malta did a wonderful job. I strongly encourage everyone to get out and support them the next time they play. I am sure you will enjoy it.