K-Lene Kuhn
Staff Writer
The 27th Annual Idaho State University Jazz Fest takes place on Jan. 31 at 8:30 p.m. at Portneuf Valley Brewing and Feb. 1. at 7:30 p.m in the Jensen Grand Hall in the Stephens Performing Arts Center.
On Friday, Jan. 31 the Jazz Fest will begin with a performance in the loft at Portneuf Valley Brewing where many talented artists will be performing.
Artists to watch include Pocatello native Kyle Aho, the featured artist this year, bassist John Skinner, saxophone player Randy Hamm and Shane Lindsay on the drums.
Aho, Skinner, Hamm and Lindsay are a guest quartet that will be visiting for the festival.
Several of the band members have traveled from other universities to come perform in Pocatello. As a result, there will be plenty of diversity demonstrated within the performance.
Saturday, Feb. 1 starting at 9 a.m., regional high school jazz bands will be sounding off for everyone to hear.
A clinic will then be presented by the quartet at 1 p.m.
“[It is] always really cool to watch professionals play and teach,” said Doug Withrow, ISU band public relations representative.
Saturday’s activities will be free until 7:30 p.m. when the Jazz Collective performs alongside the ISU Jazz I Big Band. They will be showing off their skills to conclude the 2014 Jazz Fest.
Tickets for the grand finale are $8 for adults, $6 for ISU faculty and staff, $4 for pre-college students and free for ISU students.
Audience members can expect to hear everything from swing to Latin music during the fun-filled festival.
Music will also be included from the 1930s through the 1960s time period featuring work from composers such as Alf Clausen, the theme writer for The Simpsons cartoon, along with Count Basie who was influential during the 1940s through the 1950s musical era.
A few of the ISU band members had some fun while explaining the jazz festival.
“[I expect] thousands of cheering fans calling my name,” trombone player David Murphy joked.
“It’s not classic,” trombone player Conor O’Farrell said with a laugh about his favorite part about jazz.
The ISU band has been practicing on both Tuesdays and Thursdays in order to prepare for the big event.
Lots of time and effort goes into making sure the performance that the audience sees over the weekend is one to remember.
“Good job on the hard groove,” Patrick Brooks, director of bands, recognized during one of the practices. “It’s crunch time.”
Brooks has been teaching for 22 years.
“I know, I don’t look that old,” he said.
Judging by the playful ISU band members, the events of the weekend should be something to remember.
“I just think everyone should go,” Withrow said.
You can go to the Facebook page for the ISU band and check out the biography for each member of the band. Liking the page will allow you to keep up on all of the events and happenings for the group throughout the year.
