The University of Indianapolis Jazz Ensemble performed on Tuesday, Feb. 17, with special guest Vince DiMartino in the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center.
The ensemble played eight songs with guest performers Amanda Gardier and Will Fraiser and was directed by new faculty member Freddie Mendoza.
Before DiMartino performed, the ensemble played four songs: “Blues in the Closet,” “Walk Don’t Run,” “Fables of Faubus” and a German piece “Bie Mir Bist Du Schon.”
Each piece showcased individuals in the ensemble. Vocalist Katelyn Myers also performed during “Bie Mir Bist Du Schon.”
After the four songs, Mendoza introduced DiMartino.
With enthusiasm, DiMartino expressed his love for music and shared his wisdom about music itself.
DiMartino graduated from the Eastman School of Music in 1972 and taught at the University of Kentucky and Centre College in Kentucky before retiring in 2012.
After DiMartino showcased his trumpet skills, the ensemble played four more songs: “Autumn Leaves,” “When I Fall in Love,” “Sky Dive” and “Jump the Blues.”
Junior communication major Katie Ayers was impressed by the use of different instruments in the ensemble.
“I liked the use of the vibraphone, and the bass and drums are a good mix,” she said.
Since Ayers works on a jazz station, she enjoys listening to the music.
Sophomore social work major Kasey Craig also was impressed by the ensembles overall performance.
“I thought it was really cool that they got Vince to get here,” Craig said.
Craig also enjoyed the use of trumpets in the jazz ensemble, from her own experiences playing the instrument.
“I kind of have a bias to trumpets because I played trumpet in high school,” Craig said.
Freshman jazz studies major Sidney Carpenter-Wilson performed with the ensemble and shared his thoughts on DiMartino coming to teach a master class at UIndy.
“He is an incredible performer. The way he merged styles together was virtuosic, it was really impressive. That’s the level I hope to be at one day,” Carpenter-Wilson said.
Mendoza mentioned the ensemble did not have much time to prepare for the concert.
“We had about a month and a half, and it wasn’t as hard as it seemed because last semester we learned the language of Jazz,” Carpenter-Wilson said.
The next Jazz Ensemble performance will be held on Tuesday, April 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Ruth Lilly Performance Hall.
