On Saturday, Jim Scully and the Jazz ensemble performed at for the 39th annual Jazz Jam. The night began on a sorrowful and regrettable note. Adele Davis, wife of David Davis, the former Department Chair and Music Professor here at California State University, Bakersfield, passed away. Adele was directly involved and largely responsible for the creation of the spring festival Jazz Jam, and Scully solemnly addressed the crowd and informed the crowd how much Adele would be missed.
“Adele was a strong, opinionated, compassionate, supportive presence in the music program for 30 years. Her energy fed us all. Her support of Dr. Davis was unyielding and that support allowed for the jazz program to foster the development of hundreds of musicians over three decades and she was there for every concert. Every single one. Personally, she was a wonderful advocate for me both personally and professionally. She always wanted what’s best for me, my family and my kids… She was tireless in her support and she has left a large void in our collective musical life,” Scully said.
From then on, it was all saxophone slurs, trumpet trills, and trickles up and down the piano Saturday night at CSUB. The jazz ensemble headed by professor Jim Scully performed here in the Dore Theatre for the 39th annual Jazz Jam. While the attendance was sparse, the audience members who did choose to be present were likely to enjoy thoroughly enjoy themselves.
Every year, when the jazz ensemble plays in Jazz Jam, they invite one musician to perform and interact with the students for a wholesome learning experience. This year’s invitee was Paul Tynan. Tynan is an internationally renowned trumpet player, and is currently an Associate Professor of Music at St. Francis Xavier University in Canada where he teaches jazz trumpet. He is also the co-founder of the “BiCoastal Collective,” along with saxophonist Aaron Lington, which performs across North America.
The ensemble played some classic songs that enthralled the audience. Looking out over the red velvet seats, heads were bobbing and sliding to Stephen Kupka & Emilio Castillo’s “Attitude Dance,” Freddie Hubbard’s “Red Clay,” and “Pent up House” by Sonny Rollins. But what made the performance most enjoyable was the chemistry that the musicians seemed to have with each other when they had hardly practiced with one another. Between Tony Rinaldi’s improvisations on the piano, the snap of the snare, John Luevano’s wail on the saxophone, and Tynan’s screaming trumpet, you could become easily transposed. This is particularly exciting for those who have never seen a live jazz performance before or who have never really had the jazz experience before. Who likes music that doesn’t move you?
“I really liked the show,” said Barry Hulsey, a 59 year old attendee, “I had never been to a live jazz performance before, but now I can say that I would do it again.”
For information about upcoming events and concerts, information on the jazz ensemble here on campus can be found at: http://www.csub.edu/~jscully/index.html
