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| Alto saxophonist Antonio Hart |
It was a rainy Saturday afternoon, which may
explain the low attendance for the Michigan State University Jazz Orchestra's concert at the St. Matthew’s & St. Joseph’s Episcopal
Church in Detroit.
The orchestra was directed by Detroit bassist Rodney Whitaker, who runs the MSU’s
Jazz Studies department. The concert was the last stop of a four city tour sponsored
by the Michigan State Federal Credit Union, which recently gave the department a million dollar grant.
The grant will be used for the department's artist-in-residence program. Whitaker said the acclaimed jazz musicians will be brought in for
a week long residency that includes a tour with MSU's jazz orchestra throughout Michigan.
First up was alto saxophonist Antonio Hart. Hart, 45, a native of Baltimore, has cut a bunch of excellent albums such as “Here I Stand” and “Its All Good”. His sound is a mix of bop, swing and the blues. There’s a spiritual quality to the way he plays a ballad. To date, some of his best blowing has been with the Dave Holland Big Band.
First up was alto saxophonist Antonio Hart. Hart, 45, a native of Baltimore, has cut a bunch of excellent albums such as “Here I Stand” and “Its All Good”. His sound is a mix of bop, swing and the blues. There’s a spiritual quality to the way he plays a ballad. To date, some of his best blowing has been with the Dave Holland Big Band.
As the artist-in-residence, Hart taught a series of master classes and performed with the MSU Jazz Orchestra in Lansing, Byron Center, Holland,
and Detroit. Trumpeter Jon Faddis and drummer Jeff Hamilton are coming in
December. Next year, Whitaker is looking to bring in Christian McBride, Sean Jones,
and Robert Glasper.
The diehard jazz fans that showed up
despite the lousy weather were treated to an hour plus of swing from one of
Michigan’s top college jazz orchestras. The first half of the concert the
orchestra performed “A Night in Tunisia, “Do Nothing Till You Hear from Me,”
and “Groove Merchant”. The second half Hart joined in.
On Hart’s original “Down and Out,” he grabbed
it by the shirt collar and gave it a Sam’s Club size ass kicking. The MSU Jazz
Orchestra handled Hart’s music like champions. They swung
below sea level and did not come up for air until Hart called the ballad “Stars
Fell Over Alabama”.
There was choice soloing from alto saxophonist Jerrick Mathews,
trumpeter Walter Andre’ Cano, and bassist Endea Owens. Despite the low attendance,
the orchestra played their hearts out. The orchestra's mantra appears to be swing hard
whether the house is empty or at capacity.
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