The Online Reflector

The University of Indianapolis Jazz Ensemble performed Dec. 7 at the Ruth Lilly Performance Hall in the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center.

The performance, directed by Associate Professor of Music Harry Miedema, featured a unique blend of sounds and a variety of pieces that kept a solid pace throughout the performance.

The University of Indianapolis Jazz Ensemble plays “Giant Steps” by John Coltrane in a Dec. 7 concert directed by Associate Professor of Music Harry Miedema. Photo by Ashley Keihn.

The concert opened with “Check Your Swing,” a high-energy work that kept a fast pace and was accompanied with solos by senior Dan Rauscher and junior Larron Golden on tenor sax. Rauscher and Golden set the bar for the piece, their solos almost competing, which added an element of surprise, and received a great reception from the crowd.

This was followed by “Back Bone,” which provided more hand-clapping and toe-tapping to the night than any other piece, while still adding a slightly quieter feel to the trumpets and trombones.

The next piece entitled “Elegy,” offered an eerie, somber intro, but what really stood out in this piece was the solo by pianist Matthew Bridgham, who seemed a little quiet in the earlier pieces and made up for it with the smooth melodies in his solo.
“Count Me In” added a feeling of walking downtown and seeing the city lights at night.

The mood picked up when the group performed “Robin’s Nest,” in which the saxophone group played perfectly together.

Freshman Jacob Smith provided a unique solo of the night on the trumpet and really pushed the pace of the performance.

“But Beautiful” was the best performance of the night, giving the audience a sense of beauty just in the way the group was playing.
Bridgham, junior, once again provided everyone with a fantastic solo, more emotional than the first.

The final work, entitled “Giant Steps,” was made famous by Tenor Sax great John Coltrane.

The group played well together, but what really stood out was when the saxophone group seemed to be paying homage to Coltrane.

Combined with a fantastic job on the drums by freshman Tyler Shields and a solid close to the night, this last piece was a great way to end the show.

Director Harry Miedema appreciated the applause, but what was really inspiring was the way he acknowledged the whole group more than himself. The way that he would direct, only at the beginning and end of each song, stepping to the side during the actual song, showed a lot about the confidence he had in the performers and the talent that each possesses.
The UIndy Jazz Ensemble’s performance was fantastic, and left the audience wanting more.

The group performed well together and definitely deserved the recognition they received by the end of the show.