The Pitt Jazz Ensemble performs at Bellefield Hall

The Pitt Jazz Ensemble performed its semesterly collection of various jazz pieces on Thursday, Nov. 21. The concert, which was conducted by director Ralph Guzzi, consisted of eight songs and featured a range of instruments including the trombone and alto saxophone. 

The audience cheered as each song came to its conclusion. The concert began with the song “Le Petite Mambo” by Errol Garner, which prompted the audience to cheer after hearing the classic song.

The Jazz Ensemble is a class/club hybrid. Students can take the class for credit, while also having club officers. The Ensemble practices on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. The Ensemble is also run by director Yoko Suzuki and conductor Ralph Guzzi.

Sophomore molecular biology major Michael Levin, who is also one of the co-presidents of the Jazz Ensemble, said that jazz is mainly about collaboration with everyone bringing their own style. Outside of the Jazz Ensemble, Levin is a part of various music groups and acapella groups as well.

The concert continued with songs like “The Joy of Cookin’” by Sammy Nestico. The students said that this is their favorite song to play.

Throughout the concert, the students of the Jazz Ensemble have the opportunity to experiment with different songs and ways to perform them. On one particular song, “On The Sunny Side of the Street” by Jimmy McHugh, co-president and graduating senior finance major Theo DiBiasi was the vocalist for this song. 

“I really enjoyed getting to sing ‘On the Sunny Side of the Street.’ I’m taking a vocal performance class, so it really helped with learning the song,” DiBiasi said.

First-year psychology major Anna Makoul said that she really enjoyed the pieces that were performed.

“The pieces themselves I really liked, and the tunes picked by Ralph were really cool,” Makoul said.

Makoul also said that this is her first performance in college, and she enjoyed how the concert played out.

According to DiBiasi, most of the pieces are decided by the director, but the students were able to pick some of the pieces that the director also enjoyed. They find the music sheets, and then they start rehearsing.

Levin said that his favorite part about the Jazz Ensemble is getting to play music with everyone and being able to make new friends. 

The concert also played songs like “Theme from Zoltan” by Woody Shaw, “Bridges” by Milton Nascimento, “Queen Bee” by Sammy Nestico and “Haitian Fight Song” by Charles Mingus. Each performance features various instruments like the trumpet, the trombone and also some solos from various instruments. These instruments are all key staples in making and performing jazz music.

“I’m pretty familiar with jazz — I’ve been playing the Alto saxophone since middle school. Between all of the members, everyone has an appreciation for jazz. Jazz is a unique form of music that doesn’t get played as much anymore. So if anyone gets a chance to hear some jazz, they absolutely should.” DiBiasi said. 

Levin also has been playing the saxophone since the eighth grade and has been playing for nine years.

To conclude the concert, the Jazz Ensemble performed the hit Christmas song “What Christmas Means to Me” by Stevie Wonder with lyrics sung by one of the Ensemble members and featuring various instruments.

The next performance is the Jazz Salon on Thursday, Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. in Bellefield Hall.