History of Jazz

I attended a live jazz concert in early February in North Carolina. The North Carolina Jazz Festival NCJF is a popular event that has existed for more than 32 years (Martin & Waters, 2009). It is significant to me because I am based in the Western part of the United State. The live jazz concert offers a wide range of concerts and workshops with all time stars. There was also jazz education program offered in the concert and half an hour concert featuring star musicians lined up. In the live concert held in the memorial hall featured students and faculty from the University of North Carolina of the jazz studies program such as the Charanga Carolina, UNC Jazz Combo alongside all-star performances by New York Voices, The Count Basie Orchestra.

The performance started with the students in order to prepare the audience for great performances later in the concert. All the performances were half an hour long giving the audience time to understand the jazz music and appreciate it as it is being played along. The best thrilling performance was by Count Basie Orchestra. The group was started by William “Count Basie” and has advanced with time making it one of the most significant jazz orchestras in the history. It performed one of its own irresistible “Kanas City Swing beat” that filled the room with admiration. The orchestra consists of great instrumentalists and vocalist. To signify their great performance is of importance to note that they have won 18 Grammy Awards (Jacobs & Agro, 2011). It can be considered to be the greatest force in Jazz. The orchestra is directed by Scotty Barnhart.

The New York Voices stole the show by taking it to another level. Their performance was something to by. The a cappella performance have also enabled them to win the Grammy award as well through their vocal styling and the inspired arrangement in their rooted jazz. The group is able to mix the traditional sensibilities and bring out the unexpected (Davis, 2012). The great jazz vocal group is inspiring with their performance.

The performance by the artists and the group filled the room with joy and happiness that could be seen in every audience face. This made the room more lively many applauding the performance at the great with great love enthusiastically making the audience wish for more and more performances from the groups as well as the artists. Age factor was dismissed by the thrilling performances as it was enjoyable to all. The jazz music was easy to relate to as it was magical in its own way. The venue was jam-packed with a large number of audiences who were elegantly dressed. Inside the venue, it was well arranged in a systematic manner and it was easy for the audience to locate a place to sit. The seats were arranged in a manner that all the audience will have the full view of the performance at the podium.

The jazz music made me feel fulfilled and satisfied as I like every single performance. I like due to the fact that I was able to relate the performance with what I desire. However, I would like to recommend the performers to my friends that one does not have to a great fan of jazz of posses a unique desire towards jazz the performers will have a way of reaching out to every soul.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference

Davis, J. S. (2012). Historical dictionary of jazz. Lanham, Md: Scarecrow Press.

Jacobs, G., & Agro, J. (2011). Harold Jones: The singer's drummer. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse.

Martin, H., & Waters, K. (2009). Essential jazz: The first 100 years. Australia: Thomson/Schirmer.