Jazz music can be hard to describe.
It originated in African American communities in the late 19th century and spans over a period of 100 years. Over time, the music--a series of improvisations and syncopations--has grown into many subgenres such as ska jazz, soul jazz and punk jazz.
Seton Hall students can see jazz performances throughout the year at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC). Jazz ’n the Hall puts on four concerts sponsored by the University, according to Professor Gloria Thurmond, who is the program director, as well as a senior faculty associate for the music department.
The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra is a 78-year-old classic jazz band, led by its conductor Scotty Barnhart and played at SOPAC on Nov. 18.
Many members of the band have come and gone throughout the years, but there are still members who worked or performed with Count Basie, who was from Red Bank, N.J. and founded the 16 to 18 piece orchestra in 1935. Those two members are Clarence Banks on trombone and featured vocalist Carmen Bradford.
Bradford has performed or recorded with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and James Brown. Bradford was hired by Basie as a featured vocalist in the Count Basie Orchestra for nine years. According to the press release, she recorded solo albums in the 1990s and this “established the Atlanta-based singer as one of jazz music’s most diverse and exciting vocal stylists.”
The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra is known as one of the oldest bands in existence. Its music has continued over more than seven decades, attracting older and newer generations throughout the years.
“All Seton Hall University students are invited to attend all of the jazz concerts free of charge,” Thurmond said. “Students from the University's music classes and the CORE classes generally attend for credit.”
In the other performances in the series, the Seton Hall University Faculty Jazz Ensemble will perform on Tuesday, March 24 at 7:30 p.m. at SOPAC and the Jazz Knights of West Point will perform at SOPAC on April 7 at 7:30 p.m.
The concerts are free for SHU students with an ID, $8 for other students, $15 for senior citizens and $25 for the public.
Rosemary Sweigart can be reached at rose- mary.sweigart@student.shu.edu.
