Looking for something to jazz up your weekend? Goshen College’s big band, Lavender Jazz, will perform their second and final concert of the year this Saturday, April 2, in Sauder Concert Hall. Lavender Jazz, directed by Christopher Fashun, assistant professor of music, plays a variety of jazz styles including swing, blues, be-bop, and Dixieland.
The concert will feature guest baritone saxophonist Glenn Wilson, who will perform a couple of numbers with Lavender Jazz. Wilson is a noted jazz musician who has played with many jazz and Latin-jazz groups including the Lionel Hampton Orchestra, The Buddy Rich Band and Tito Puente. The set list for the evening includes pieces from such jazz legends as Thelonius Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker and more.“I think we’ve got a nice selection of music and it’s sounding pretty good,” said first-year student Joseph Kotva, a trumpeter in his second semester playing with Lavender Jazz. “It will just be nice to perform, since we haven’t performed since last semester, and that’s too long not performing at all in my opinion.”
Ally Uhey, a senior pianist who is in her fourth and final year of playing with Lavender Jazz, said her favorite thing about participating in Lavender Jazz has been the laid back atmosphere of the band.
“It’s a great break from classical music and allows me to break free from written music and improvise,” she said. Uhey said that she is most looking forward to this concert because of the opportunity to have guest Glenn Wilson play a few songs with the band.
The concert is this Saturday, April 2 at 7:30 p.m. in Sauder Concert Hall. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. Goshen College students, staff, and faculty are free with valid ID. Tickets are available at the door an one hour before the show.
