Share: As a college student, the chance to meet someone who’s reached legendary status in their field is a dream. Some of the music majors of PCC were able to live that dream on April 3 in the Westerbeck Recital Hall, when legendary saxophonist Ernie Watts came to PCC and performed with the PCC Jazz Faculty (Gary Fukushima, piano, Steve Cotter, guitar, Zac Matthews, bass, Brian Carmody, drums) to play the sounds of John Coltrane and Miles Davis. “It was like being able to step …
PCC all-star jazz combo band stuns in final performance
Share: Pasadena City College Studio Jazz Singers and All-star combo band performed at Green Street Restaurant. The event was put together as part of their final by Mary Durst, the director of the Supper Club Show. Mary Durst is a music professor at PCC. Her class meets every Wednesday night for three hours throughout the semester. Durst wants to allow her students to perform live for their final in order to grow their experience outside of the classroom. “The live performance reinforces students to learn …
PCC’s Latin Jazz Ensemble serenades Lancers in live concert
Share: PCC’s Latin Jazz Ensemble serenaded Lancer’s Pass last week, collecting passing students who were entranced by the genre’s infectious rhythms. The ensemble, led by Dave Tull, played classics from the Latin jazz repertoire, such as Mama Guela, Como Fué, Llegó La Banda and Mambo Diablo, and swing songs redone in the Latin style. Cantaloupe Island is a jazz standard that the ensemble played as a samba and There Will Never Be Another You was played as a mambo. The ensemble played the jazz standard …
Autumn Sounds at Noon Concerts
Share: As the fall weather begins to breeze on campus, the sound of the season doesn’t seem to be coming from the wistful wind or falling leaves. Rather it comes from a blaring trumpet and a playful piano that can be heard during one of the music performances held on the West patio in front of the Center for the Arts building, for the weekly “Noon Concerts.” Follow:
Lancers’ Lives: Passionate percussionist sticks to his dreams
Share: Raul Rivera is a second-year music major with an emphasis in jazz performance. He started drumming about five years ago, and has not turned back since. Though he has yet to decide on where to transfer to for his Bachelor of Arts in music, Rivera is sure he wants to spend the rest of his life jamming with his drumsticks. Follow:
Improving improv with jazz guitarist Larry Koonse
Share: Grammy nominated CalArts music professor Larry Koonse started and ended his two-day visit at PCC with a full house jazz concert at the Westerbeck Recital Hall, but what happened in between, the intimate interaction between the notorious musician and PCC jazz students, is what left its mark on campus. Follow:
PCC jazz soloists unite to recreate popular oldies
Share: A vintage 50s sound forged by guitar, piano, and brass solos could be heard as jazz filled the air during a sunny afternoon, complemented beautifully by an arsenal of solo vocalists performing one after another. Follow:
Worby and MUSE/IQUE close Summer of Sound
Share: Artistic Director Rachael Worby led the MUSE/IQUE orchestra on Saturday night to perform the final instalment of the Summer of Sound Series at California Institute of Technology. Follow:
Jazz big band provides tranquility for students
The calming music and professionalism of the students grabbed the attention of more than a few students.
Jazz trio eases midterm stress
Amidst the hustle and bustle of midterm week, with sights such as students bolting across the Quad with a Scantron in hand, a small jazz trio eased the tension.