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Chrys Weedon<\/strong> | Entertainment Editor<\/span><\/p>\n Western Oregon Voices gave a warm and cozy end to a rainy, festive night with their jazz-themed concert, \u201cPass Me the Jazz.\u201d Following the 51st annual Holiday Tree Lighting, the auditioned ensemble of 13 students, accompanied by a jazz combo, performed five jazz pieces and one traditional Christmas song, \u201cCarol of the Bells.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n The accompanying jazz combo included Noah Adams on drums, Jacob Marsh on bass, and Julia Harrington on piano.<\/span><\/p>\n Dr. James Reddan directed this concert, his second performance in one week. Dr. Reddan is a nationally and internationally acclaimed conductor, clinician, and adjudicator. Reddan has also won two awards: one for \u201cExcellence in Music Education\u201d from the American Prize in Choral Music and one for being the conductor for the first \u201cHonored Artist Choral Ensemble\u201d by the American Prize.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI chose to focus on jazz specifically because of the many musical doors it opens for the singers in this ensemble,\u201d said Dr. Reddan. \u201cThe skills that the students learn from singing vocal jazz repertoire translates extremely well and benefits them when performing in all other styles of vocal music,\u201d he added.<\/span><\/p>\n Despite some difficulties with sound, the concert went down without a hitch, and the smooth uniform style of the performers added exponentially to the overall ambiance of the performance. The song choice included pieces that were recognizable but not naggingly clich\u00e9.<\/span><\/p>\n