The University of Indianapolis Jazz Ensemble performed music from the Jim Edison library at 7:30 p.m. on Apr. 7, 0in Lilly Performance Hall in the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center.
The Jazz Ensemble was part of UIndy’s eighth annual Jazz Week, which also hosted headliner Rufus Reid, Steve Allee and Mark Buselli at other times during the week. UIndy Jazz Ensemble performed a big band era with traditional repertoire, according to the UIndy website. During the performance, the Jazz Ensemble encouraged audience members to get up on stage and dance along to the music. Many audience members joined the ensemble.
Freshman criminal justice major Sarah Debes said the dancing on stage was her favorite because of the way the Jazz Ensemble interacted with the crowd and the feeling of the music.
Although Debes did not participate on stage, freshman musical performance major Carrie Atkinson danced in front of the crowd.
“I am a huge jazz fan, and I love to swing dance any chance I get,” Atkinson said.
Atkinson also noticed the traditional setup of the band so there would be room for dancers. It was her favorite part of the night, she said.
The big band finished the night with a classic Jim Edison piece, “Girl Talk.”
“‘Girl Talk’ was my favorite because of the couples that danced to it,” Debes said. “You could see the passion as they swayed back and forth remembering a special time in their relationship.”
