By: Rachael Jackson Staff Writer
Renowned flugelhornist Dmitri Matheny came to the Smith Recital Hall on Nov. 4 to perform with a local jazz trio. The trio consisted of Western instructor Dan Gaynor on the piano, Todd Strait on the drums, and Chris Higgins playing the bass.
For those unsure of what a flugelhorn is, Matheny explains, “A flugelhorn is like a trumpet that sounds good.” The response yielded laughter from the audience and helped set a casual mood for the concert.
The four musicians played a light and airy bossa nova by Bruno Martino, as well as “Stormy Weather” by famous composer Harold Arlen. Matheny left the stage for the next song so the trio could showcase their talents.
The trio played “Fried Pies” by Wes Montgomery. Both of Gaynor’s feet were occupied, one busy with the piano’s pedals, the other tapping in time to the rhythm of the song.
An unexpected mixture of breaks and solos characterized the song itself, and the stage came alive as all of the musicians grooved to the music.
Matheny rejoined the stage for “Red Reflections,” a song off his album “Sagebrush Rebellion” that they played as a double-timed samba. The song was inspired by sitting in traffic during a rainy day.
“You’ll see the reflections from the taillights of the cars in front of you, and on the pavement,” he explained. “You can get stressed out about that, or you can think, ‘Oh, this is a hip vibe.’”
The highlight of the night was when they played Eclypso, a piece arranged by Matheny’s former teacher, the late Art Farmer. The song was a fast tempo ditty that rang throughout the hall, but something was missing—dancing.
“Jazz has always been a social thing, people should be dancing to music like this, always,” mused Nick Nielsen, a bassist, and junior music major.
Emily Lowry, senior business major, had been unsure about whether she would enjoy a jazz concert, as she had expected that jazz would be far slower.
“The faster and upbeat tempo was unexpected. It makes you want to dance,” Lowry remarked.
The night ended with a bang as the jazz trio and Matheny performed their rendition of “Golden Lady” by Stevie Wonder.
Missed this show and feeling sore? Come hear Spanish Song Treasures in the Smith Recital Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. Check out the Music department’s website for even more events and ticketing information.
