Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University’s Jazz Band will perform a concert at Jones Performing Arts Center on Monday, Nov. 25 at 7:30 p.m. The band will perform a variety of genres ranging from swing to hip-hop. The concert is free and open to the public.

“Students should definitely come to the jazz concert,” said Brent Nessler, a senior music education major from Rowlett, Texas, who plays tenor saxophone in the band. “It’s always a fun night displaying all sorts of jazz, funk, Latin and even some pop tunes.”

By attending the event “students at OBU will gain an appreciation for the jazz genre of music,” said Bret Steed, a senior music performance major form Idabel, Okla., who plays trombone. “The Jazz Band concert has something for everyone. Their feet will be tapping, bodies will be moving and hearts will be racing.”

Nessler added that he loves when people approach him “after a performance to say that they had never listened to jazz before but because of the concert have gained a real interest in the art.”

“I love working with the students,” said Jazz Band Director Dr. Craig Hamilton.  “I enjoy watching them grow and improve from the first rehearsal to the concert. I enjoy making music with the band.” Hamilton also serves as OBU’s director of bands and the Lena Goodwin Trimble Professor of Music.

The Jazz Band concert set list includes: “18^th Circle” by Dave Mills; “On Green Dolphin Street” by Bronislau Kaper and Ned Washington and arranged by Frank Mantooth; “Sway” by Norman Gimbel and Pablo Beltran Ruiz and arranged by Mark Taylor; “Brother Mister” by Christian McBride and arranged by Mike Kamuf; “Vertigo” by Doug Beach; “The Man I Love” by George and Ira Gershwin and arranged by Dave Wolpe; “Afro Blue” by Mongo Santamaria and arranged by Michael Philip Mossman; “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Steve Perry, Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain and arranged by Paul Baker; “Don’t Know Why” by Jesse Harris and arranged by Paul Murtha; “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic” by Sting and arranged by Paul Murtha; and “Barbeque” by Mike Carubia.

Each year, a featured vocal soloist is chosen by audition. This year, Carli Sasser, a senior music education major from Hamburg, Ark., won the role. She will sing in “The Man I Love,” “Sway,” and “Don’t Know Why.”

In addition to Nessler, Jazz Band saxophonists include: Zach Barber, a sophomore music education major from Mansfield, Texas, on alto saxophone; Allison King, a senior music education major from Fort Worth, Texas, on alto saxophone; and Chelsea Villanueva, a junior music education major Bentonville, Ark., on tenor saxophone.

On the trumpets are: Lindsay Palmer, a sophomore music education major from Idabel, Okla.; Alexandra Lawson, a freshman accounting major from Texarkana, Texas; Kelly Cortez, a junior biology and Spanish major from McKinney, Texas; and Kacie Richards, a freshman biology major from Springdale, Ark.

In addition to Steed, trombones players include: Jason Potts, a freshman music education major from Springdale, Ark.; Kaden Sosebee, a sophomore Christian studies major from Fort Smith, Ark.; and Dalton King, a freshman music education major from Greenwood, Ark.

On the piano is Weston Wills, a freshman music education major from Norphlet, Ark. On the guitar is Garrett Lee, a freshman music major from Searcy, Ark. On the bass is Justin Massey, a sophomore music education major from Weatherford, Texas. On the drums are Drew Ervin, a senior music and computer science major from Springdale, Ark., and Stephen Vaughn, a freshman church music major from Hot Springs, Ark.

For more information contact Dr. Craig Hamilton at [email protected] or (870) 245-5137.

By Kaitie Scott