On Thursday, March 9, the annual GFA Jazz Festival was held in the Janet Hartwell Performing Arts Center.
The GFA Jazz Band, under the direction of Dr. Rex Cadwallader, Director of Bands, played several selections of big band standards in the full ensemble and eight smaller jazz combos.
Student musicians in each of the combos performed fun and challenging renditions of familiar tunes from the early 20th century to the present.
This year, the combos are led by students Dylan Cofsky ‘23, Will McGonagle ‘23, Eli Kennon ‘23, Joseph Lublinsky ‘24, Max Mead ‘26, Alex St. Andre ‘24, Derek Denkin ‘26, and Oliver Rohrbasser ‘26.
As a special treat, GFA welcomed special guest Ali Ryerson, a world-class flautist, longtime Connecticut resident, and frequent visitor to GFA. Ryerson played several selections with the GFA Jazz Band, and was joined by Dr. Cadwallader on piano and GFA adjunct faculty members Mike Asetta on bass and Arti Dixson on drums.
Performances included:
“Fool Me Once” – by Gordwin Goodwin
“St. James Infirmary” – Traditional
“Back at the Chicken Shack” – by Jimmy Smite
“Cantaloupe Island” by Herbie Hancock
“Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” – by Nat and Julian “Cannonball” Adderly
“Watermelon Man” – by Herbie Hancock
“Lullaby of Birdland” – by George Shearing
“Sonnymoon for Two” – by Sonny Rollins
“Tenor Madness” – by Sonny Rollins
“Autumn Leaves” – by Joseph Kosma
“Smooth” – by Itaal Shur and Rob Thomas
“Blues by Five” – by Sonny Rollins
“Doxy” – by Sonny Rollins
“Billie’s Bounce – by Charlie. Parker
“Estate’” by Bruno Martino
“Alone Together”
“Birdland” – by Joe Zawinul