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The student Jazz Combo presented its debut concert noon Thursday in room 123 of the Williams Center for the Arts.
The program included two original compositions by music major Jack Furlong, a sophomore from Hopewell, N.J. Sponsored by the music department, the event was free and open to the public.
The Jazz Combo was created this semester at the request of several Lafayette students, who wanted a small jazz ensemble led by a faculty director.
“With our new jazz piano instructor, Neal Kirkwood, I felt we had a match,” says Skip Wilkins, assistant professor of music. “I helped assemble a group of students and he works with them each week.”
The Jazz Combo includes Chris Michaud, a senior double major in art and music from Millerton, N.Y., tenor saxophone; Furlong, baritone saxophone; Brandon Cochenour, a senior electrical and computer engineering major from Lower Burrell, Pa, piano; Sean Comerford, a first-year student from Manhasset, N.Y., bass; and Brian Regan, a first-year student from Springfield, Pa., drums.
The program featured “You’d be So Nice to Come Home to,” Cole Porter; “Someday My Prince Will Come,” Churchill-Morey; “Vanessa’s Blues,” Furlong; “Don’t Explain,” Billie Holiday; “Eating Ice Cream in the Dark,” Furlong; and “Love Dance,” Joe Bonner.
A performing artist and composer/arranger, Kirkwood is very active on the contemporary music scene. He received a bachelor’s of music and master’s in music composition from Mannes College of Music and has had additional studies at the Julliard School and North Texas State University. He has won numerous awards for composition and maintains a busy performance schedule.