Jazz is a type of music that has become very popular in the United States. The most important feature of this style is the rhythm which makes the audience feel the mood of the composition at its best. The second critical element of jazz is improvisation because it is often played without any prefabricated melody: musicians only choose a particular direction during the game, giving in to their inspiration. A mesmerizing melody is born as the listener watches the musician play, making people want to attend more concerts. Jazz combines music, feeling, and art, and the performance of the MDC Jazz Faculty Quintet is a vivid example of the perfect performance.
Objective Information
Miami Dade’s student life is rich in events, but the jazz performances during the 25th anniversary season are eye-opening. The MDC Jazz Faculty Quintet is an example of one of the year’s highlights, held in the Wolfson Campus Auditorium, 300 N.E. Second Ave., Building 1, Room 1261 (MDC). The MDC Jazz Faculty Quintet is a band of creative musicians with tremendous talent and honed skills. It is an amazing ensemble proud to belong to Miami-Dade College. The quintet includes Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Ed Calle, guitarist Mike Di Liddo, pianist Jim Gassior, bassist Gary Thomas, and drummer Ludwig Afonso (MDC). As diverse musicians with various musical backgrounds gather, their performances exhibit a mix of styles only possible in jazz. The quintet presents original works and selections from the jazz repertoire. The Wolfson Campus Auditorium concert was open and free to the public (MDC). Moreover, those who could not attend had an excellent opportunity to watch the performance live at home and thus immerse themselves in the jazz atmosphere simply by pressing a button on their computer.
Subjective Information
Even though the performance was in November, I am still emotionally overwhelmed by what I have heard and seen. It is possible to emphasize only the positive aspects of the performance, which was of the highest level. First, I should start with the spacious place, but at the same time, it is not too large, allowing the listeners to immerse themselves in jazz music’s unrivaled and comfortable environment. The arrangement of the artists, the instruments, and the organization enthralled and allowed one to forget all worries and find oneself in a completely different world for a moment. Those who watched the performance online were no less fortunate; even though the computer was distant from the audience and the artists, their wonderful music could touch the soul strings even through the screens. Furthermore, it is important to note the interaction between the artists and the audience, directed at the audience and the camera.
It was not my first jazz concert, but professionalism and experience on large stages were especially evident this time. The band had words for every audience member; entertaining stories prefaced the songs or filled in the technical pauses. The artists announced the repertoire and described the background and meaning of almost every melody, instantly causing a flow of thoughts and awareness in each listener. Moreover, the artists were interested in the audience’s opinions, and the warm interaction and the countless smiles were the basis of the performance. The comfortable and unobtrusive communication allowed one to understand the characteristics of jazz even more. Moreover, previously incomprehensible melodies were played in a completely different way. I certainly enjoyed the interaction process and the instant feedback that made me want to attend all of the musicians’ performances. The quintet performed original and selected compositions, with the former dominating the program.
The MDC Jazz Faculty Quintet’s repertoire is diverse and includes both unique and classical jazz music. The musicians made even well-known compositions of world jazz classics sound in a new way, while the original compositions fascinated me with their harmony. Each concert piece of the jazz ensemble was distinguished by its thoughtful conception, great expressive power, and impeccable performance mastery. The audience received a powerful charge of energy and was grateful for the sincerity of the music and a real holiday organized by the musicians for jazz lovers. Some original tracks sounded close to the classics but had unique zest and distinctive rhythms that left no one indifferent. Besides this, numerous compositions were played for the first time, making the performance even more fascinating and unexpected.
The atmosphere at this event amazed me, which is a credit to all the performers. I had been told that music is either read from a sheet of music or learned by heart, but in this case, it was all in the hands of the musicians. Later I realized that this is what improvisation is all about – it embodies the quintessential collective aesthetic of jazz, generating structure through motion. That is another great thing about the jazz style because even now, it continues to provoke inquiries about order and chaos, as well as structure and unpredictability. Despite this, the improvisational nature of jazz music continues to baffle numerous listeners, even though the act of improvisation is central to human interaction. The artists were impressed with their uniqueness and imagination, so we can conclude that this musical experience was positive.
Before visiting this performance, jazz seemed to me in a rather strange genre because I was not fully aware of its features and subtleties of style. However, now I understand that jazz is not a torture of music; on the contrary, it is one of its best manifestations. It is not about overcoming yourself and starting on the road to jazz through John Coltrane’s “Love Supreme” or Ornette Coleman’s avant-garde albums. It is a style in which everyone can find something different because it’s a separate dimension that embraces different styles of music. I had never heard such a combination of styles in any composition before, and the property of the quartet’s performance made me realize the whole ensemble of musical instruments, voices, timbres, emotions, and feelings.
Conclusion
To conclude, the uniqueness of jazz is precise because this music is recognizable, but it is always different and reflects feelings and emotions that are hard to put into words. At one moment, the melody may express confusion, at another, it may express relaxation; at a third moment, they merge into one. Due to this feature, modern jazz is filled with more unique trends, colors, melodies, and rhythms. I recommend the MDC Jazz Faculty Quintet to everyone because their music conveys the state of mind, mood, and even the musicians’ message. Another important feature is the regular pulsation or beat, which makes the music more voluminous, structured, and dynamic. The quartet is unique, and its music should be heard and felt by everyone, jazz lovers and those who doubt this direction.
Work Cited
“25th Anniversary Season: September 14, 2022 – April 5, 2023.” MDC, Web.