The University of Indianapolis hosted Matt Pivec on Feb. 18 as part of the Jazz Concert Series in the Ruth Lilly Performance Hall of the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center.
The performance featured four musicians, Pivec playing the tenor and soprano saxophones, Steve Allee playing the piano, Jesse Whitman playing the bass and Kenny Phelps playing the drums.
The performance included songs from Matt Pivec’s album released in 2013 “Psalm Songs.”
All of the songs from the performance were composed by Pivec. Steve Allee and Kenny Phelps also were featured on the album as piano and drum players.
Senior communication major Amber Derrow attended the performance for her Introduction to Music course.
“I love that the University offers experiences like this. It was really cool to see non students and adults come to campus just to see this show,” she said.
Left to right) Steve Allee, Jesse Whitman, Kenny Phelps and Matt Pivec practice their set before their performance at the Jazz Concert Series on Wednesday, Feb. 18. Photo by Kameron Casey
Jacob Noe, a senior at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, was one of the audience members who came from outside the UIndy community.
“I came because I heard there would be a sax performance, and I really love to hear live music,” Noe said. “I play some instruments myself, so I really appreciate and enjoy going to concerts where other people play their instruments live.”
According to Pivec, the album was inspired by the book of Psalms from the Bible. One song in particular from the album, “Days Gone By,” was inspired by his twin six-year-old boys.
In previous performances of the album, Pivec displayed a picture of his sons’ feet side-by-side when they were infants, while the song would play.
The performance featured songs from the album including “As Far as the East,” “One End of the Sky,” “Whiter than Snow,” “Like the Cedars,” “Can’t Take It With,” “Days Gone By” and “Head and Beard.”
The next Jazz Concert Series performance will be tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the Ruth Lilly Performance Hall of the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center entitled Tucker Brothers and Friends.
The performance will feature bassist Nick Tucker and guitarist Joel Tucker. Both musicians are natives of the Indianapolis area.
