The Wings of Swing jazz it up

Cealia Brannan

February 11, 2013

Director Neal Bonsanti and the Wings of Swing playing the song "Jordu" composed by Duke Jordan. Photo by Melissa Landolfa. — Director Neal Bonsanti and the Wings of Swing playing the song “Jordu” composed by Duke Jordan. Photo by Melissa Landolfa.

Lights dimmed, hushing the audience of almost 150 local residents and students taking their place in the crimson seats of the University Theatre, while six jazz musicians strode across the stage.

The Wings of Swing Jazz Band and the Uwallo Messengers ensemble, FAU’s jazz band and jazz group, performed at 3 p.m. on Feb. 10 as one of the FAU Department of Music’s February concerts. David Rossow, FAU piano instructor and house manager for the concert, said that the accepted donations were used to give scholarships to music students. He also said that Wells Fargo agreed to match the donations.

The six ensemble members of the Uwallo Messengers opened the concert with three separate jazz combos. “Green Dolphin Street,” the last combo, led off with a jazzy, uptempo guitar rhythm.

The applause faded and the ensemble disappeared behind the stage curtains as 17 of the 24 jazz band musicians filed onto the stage. Neal Bonsanti, the band director, introduced the Wings of Swing Jazz Band’s first performance of the year.

Derrick Newbold, saxophone player for the Wings of Swing and Uwallo Messengers, performing a solo at the Jazz and Jazz Combos concert. Photo by Melissa Landolfa.

Each jazz piece contained a different number of musicians and featured one or two soloists, ranging from saxophone to piano musicians. Bonsanti said that each song required only a certain number of musicians and that he let the musicians decide who would perform which songs.

Dramatic volumes and rhythms swayed the audience — many heads bobbed and fingers tapped along with the tunes. Bonsanti introduced the first two songs, which he said featured African rhythms in honor of Black History Month, as well as a Valentine’s Day themed song entitled “When I Fall in Love.”

“The first [song] was a blues, the second was swing,” said the band’s drummer, Nate James. “‘When I Fall in Love,’ that style was just the blues.”

James further explained that the concert displayed several different styles of jazz music. The eight songs performed by the jazz band included Latin, swing, blues, and funk jazz styles.

Bonsanti presented trumpet soloist Nathaniel Spiner as a commercial music major “star” who had never played in a jazz band before. Bonsanti recounted giving Spiner jazz music to practice and being impressed with his talent. Nathaniel Spiner performed a solo during the mellow song “Leaving,” granting him loud applause.

The Wings of Swing creating rhythm to raise money for scholarships. Photo by Melissa Landolfa.

The jazzy rhythms swirled throughout the theater, until the performance came to a close with the final tune, “Crunchy Frog,” which struck the spectators with a blast of energy.

The audience rose to their feet and gave the Wings of Swing a loud ovation.

James, along with the rest of the jazz performers, were impressed with the amount of people in the audience. “More students have turned out,” he said. According to audience member Alex Javizian, junior music education major, it was better than the usual turnout. “It seemed that they drew a lot more people to this one,” he said. Javizian said usually 40 to 45 people attend these concerts — himself included. “It’s always fun to see the jazz band play.”

UNIVERSITY PRESS

UNIVERSITY PRESS

UNIVERSITY PRESS

The Wings of Swing jazz it up

UNIVERSITY PRESS