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From classical to jazz at TWU

The holiday season is about to heat up with a swinging night of jazz, courtesy of TWU’s School of the Arts, Media and Culture.
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Fort Langley musician Vincent Clements is among the performers who will take the stage at TWU on Dec. 7 to perform a set of timeless jazz standards.

The holiday season is about to heat up with a swinging night of jazz, courtesy of TWU’s School of the Arts, Media and Culture.

On Dec. 7, SAMC Music’s Vocal Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo will perform a varied set of timeless standards with a few fun surprises along the way.

“They’re dynamic, entertaining performers,” says SAMC Music professor Jeff Warren, who directs the Jazz Combo.

“Hearing these musicians play is more than an opportunity to hear great tunes, you get to watch them improvise and create new music on the spot.”

The lively group has become a popular fixture in the community, recently playing a Wellspring Foundation fundraiser that raised over $100,000.

“We’re passionate about training professionals at SAMC,” Warren explains. “And the Jazz Combo’s community engagements are a phenomenal opportunity for them to pair solid musicianship with professional experience.”

The evening’s entertainment spans genres like swing, Latin, modern, and 1950s “cool jazz.”

The 10-voice Vocal Jazz Ensemble will open with favourites such as Unforgettable and What a Wonderful World.

Among the concert’s fresh offerings are new arrangements for the Jazz Combo by talented third-year student Vincent Clements.

Clements, a multi-instrumentalist who hails from Fort Langley, penned the horn arrangements for tunes like Miles Davis’ Kello.  It’s a busy year for the talented music major, who also plays with TWU’s Klezmer Ensemble on Wedensday,

Nov. 30 and will anchor the band with his bassline for SAMC’s spring production of Fiddler on the Roof.

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Three talented ensembles from SAMC Music at Trinity Western University present an evening of chamber music, ranging from John Mayer to Beethoven. TWU’s piano trio, Klezmer band, and guitarquartet will perform Nov. 30.

The guitar quartet will kick off the evening with a varied set, including an arrangement of John Mayer’s Why Georgia and Bach’s Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.

The piano trio (consisting of a piano, cello, and clarinet) follows with Beethoven’s Op. 11, Trio in B-flat Major.

A unique offering in this night of music is the performance of a 7-piece Klezmer band.  In the spirit of SAMC’s upcoming production of Fiddler on the Roof, this ensemble will perform Jewish celebration music including a few tunes from the musical itself — the toe-tapping To Life being a highlight.

Also on the program is the classic Hava Nagila, and Korobeiniki, the 19th Century Russian folk song used for the original theme of the classic video game Tetris.

With this mixture of party music, stirring masterpieces, and Top 40 hits…it looks like a rousing cure for the winter blues. For more SAMC news and events, visit www.twu.ca/samc.

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Both the Nov. 30 and Dec. 7 performances will be held in the Instrumental Music Hall in the TWU music building, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Admission is by a suggested donation of $5.