On Wednesday night, Goshen College’s Lavender Jazz ensemble took the stage at Sauder Concert Hall for their spring concert. Lit by purple and teal lights, the 16 band members played eight pieces, followed by an encore. 

With its start in the mid ‘70s, Lavender Jazz has been a staple in GC’s music scene for nearly 50 years. Band director Greg Smucker was a part of Lavender Jazz in its early years, and has been directing it for the last six. 

With the entire semester to prepare, Lavender Jazz went on to perform their most difficult spring concert yet. “For the last two years, every single concert, I’ve said on that concert, that this is the most difficult concert that we’ve played,” Smucker said. 

The band played a mix of songs inspired by be-bop, hard bop and world beat. The set included songs such as Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke,” Dave Brubeck’s “Blue Rondo a la Turk” and Bobby Timmons’ “Moanin’.”

Leading up to the concert, student band members expressed their excitement for this year’s performance. Griffin Eash, junior graphic design major and saxophonist, said, “This is going to be the best concert we’ve ever had.” 

Eash went on to describe Smucker’s uplifting directing style and explained his ability to put on such a concert. “He chooses to focus on improv and how to improve solos … so that we can not only play good, well- composed music, but we can also produce well thought-out solos during the performances,” he said. 

Similarly, Kate Roth, junior music education major and trumpet player, expressed her pride in this year’s performance. “I think our music choices are really fun. They’re hard, but I think we’ve tackled them really well, so it’s presented a good challenge,” she said. 

After a semester of buildup, Smucker believes that the band went on to perform their songs the best they’d ever played them. Each song included improvised solos from different musicians, including some unaccompanied and some trading fours. After each solo, the musician received applause from the audience. 

These solos were brought to life by the acoustics of Sauder and energized by the audience participation. In the lobby after the concert, audience members expressed their excitement from the performance. 

Robina Sommers, assistant professor of education, remarked, “I’m just invigorated by the concert, I needed that in my soul today.” 

Robert Hochstedler ’70 said, “It’s the best one that I’ve heard.”

With such a long legacy, Smucker has had to keep Lavender Jazz a constantly evolving ensemble. “We’re trying to find a variety of styles, a variety of moods, and also putting together a good concert,” Smucker said. 

As much as the music selection contributes to the success of the ensemble, Smucker said, “The backbone of the band is definitely the students.” 

“The group of people that we have right now are just super talented,” Eash said. “The freshmen that we got coming in … they’re all just incredible musicians.”

One of these first-year band members is David Sefu, a sustainability and music major who plays percussion and piano in Lavender Jazz. Despite the upperclassmen band members’ high praise of his talent, Sefu was apprehensive when he joined the group.

“It was, at first, nerve-wracking to join, especially because I got put onto the piano which is not my main instrument,” Sefu said. Despite this, the band’s community helped turn his apprehension into affection. “Everyone’s just really supportive, and I enjoy the environment,” Sefu said. 

To sum up his sentiments for this year’s Lavender Jazz ensemble, Smucker said, “I’m always excited when a group comes together … and becomes a good ensemble. It doesn’t always happen … It’s the kind of thing where you have to really appreciate when it does happen.” 

GC’s Lavender Jazz is open by audition to any student, regardless of major, and will have performances in the fall.