DSC Jazz Ensembles Stun at Swing into Spring Performance

Just 30 minutes after Daytona State College’s annual open house, the News-Journal Center hosted the DSC Jazz Ensembles for their “Swing into Spring” collections.

Both the combo and big band performed a set for the event, starting with the jazz combo.

With three saxophones, one trombone and trumpet, and a concise rhythm section, the jazz combo delivered big sound and tremendous improvisational solos over various charts.

This set centered around bossa nova and Latin beats when playing charts like “Song for My Father”, “Poinciana” and “Chile Con Sol”, differing from the slow-blues style of “In Your Own Sweet Way”, a love song written by Brubeck for his wife, Lola.

Isaac Calderon, DSC associate’s degree student and tenor saxophonist compared the dynamic of the combo to the big band. “We’ve all kinda bonded on a musical level and gotten to sort of understand each other’s pros and cons,” he said. “I would say the combo is a lot closer.”

This is reflected by the playful behavior displayed between the musicians during charts. During Michael Maslak’s marimba solo in “Things Are Getting Better”, saxophonists Maximus Techer and Blake Houston began hopping on alternating feet in a synchronized manner, earning chuckles from fellow musicians and the crowd.

Maximus Techer performed an incredible alto saxophone solo in “Chile Con Sol”, with his speedy runs through the range of his instrument, including reaching and sustaining notes in altissimo register with incredible stylistic technique. The combo then waved their arms, “bowing down” to his skill.

The DSC Big Band did not disappoint following the exceptional skill of the combo musicians and instead exceeded all expectations, including the feature of pianists Alex Rose in “Teddy the Toad” and Adam Rich in “In a Sentimental Mood”, and “Hospital Blues”.

The piano lines added a call-and-response effect to many of the songs- especially “Hospital Blues”, where Adam Rich and featured soloist and trombonist Filip Sokolowski traded off melody and countermelody.

Filip Sokolowski stunned the audience for the entirety of the number with difficult runs on trombone, fitting the minor tonality of the background chords. Parker Wasden, trombone player and DSC student said, “I have a hard time counting ‘cause I’m literally like, in awe, the entire time.”

Isabel Rios, DSC graduate and music education major, sang “Satin Doll” and “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore”. Her strong, open resonance echoed through the theatre and set the style for both swing charts. Overall, the groups that played on stage late Thursday night collaborated beautifully for this performance. If you missed this “Swing Into Spring” show, the big band is taking the main stage at noon on April 26, at Lakesi