SAN ANGELO, Texas — Angelo State University's jazz ensembles program will host "Jazz Combo Night" at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Backbeat Music, 130 S. Oakes St., in downtown San Angelo.
According to an ASU press release, the performances will be styled less like a traditional concert and more like an open jam session, and will be free and open to the public. Three ASU jazz combos named for ASU mascots - Combo Roscoe, Combo Bella and Combo Dominic - will perform a variety of jazz music.
The combos each have six student members who perform on trumpets, saxophones, trombones, bass, guitar, piano, drum set and vibraphone. Each combo will perform a few tunes from the "Real Book" of jazz standards, as well as student compilations, including:
- "Blue Monk"
- "Twilight Zone"
- "Take 5"
- "Secret of the Forest"
- "Well, You Needn't"
- "Dark Necessities"
- "Spider Dance"
When the combos are finished, they will join together to form a house band and then open up the stage for anyone in the audience who would like sit in and play. Attendees are encouraged to bring their instruments and be ready to join in.
The jazz combos are a component of the ASU Jazz Ensembles program, which aims to offer diverse and creative, small-and-large group jazz performance experiences, covering a wide range of styles, including bebop, Latin jazz, free jazz, funk, hip-hop and others.
The program is directed by Dr. Trent Shuey, ASU assistant director of bands.
