The University of Connecticut Jazz Combos took to the stage at von der Mehden Recital Hall on Sunday, April 7 for an afternoon performance featuring the talents of small jazz groups.
Unlike UConn’s jazz ensemble, a large 20-piece group that features full saxophone, trombone and trumpet sections, the jazz combos are small-scale ensembles that feature only four to seven members. The combos are organized by musical themes and ability, and each group regularly performs shows both on and off-campus.
A unique aspect of the jazz combos is that each group has a different composition of instruments, aside from the core base of drums and bass. Some groups feature multiple saxophones, while others are reliant on trumpets and trombones to be the lead instruments. One of the groups, named MHS JV Tennis Team, even featured vocalist Hazel Allik, the first jazz vocal major at UConn.
Four groups performed at Sunday’s performance: Triple Double, Three on 3, MHS JV Tennis Team and Tea for Seven. Each group played two to three songs apiece, with nearly every song featuring long improvisational segments where members took turns taking solos.
Among the groups with the most unique sound was Triple Double, a quartet featuring an unorthodox lineup of a guitarist, bassist, drummer and trombonist. The barebones set-up left trombonist Christopher Rauch to carry out most of the melodic duties, though guitarist Miles DuBois also got in on the lead action.
The quartet’s performance opened with a rendition of Hank Mobley’s “This I Dig of You.” The rhythm section of Ben Boisoneau and Jacob Yontef on bass and drums, respectively, kept the song moving with a flowing bossa nova groove. Following that was “Moanin’,” the hard bop classic penned by Art Blakey.
DuBois and Rauch took turns playing the song’s iconic main lead and then took their respective solos. Rauch’s extended trombone solo was fiery but not overpowering. Yontef then took center stage with a call-and-response section between his drum fills and the rest of the group.
For a group with just four members, including three in the rhythm section, Triple Double’s sound never felt empty. DuBois and Rauch complemented each other beautifully, while Boisoneau and Yontef operated in lockstep the whole time. The drums and bass were especially connected during the Latin-inspired grooves in their set, with Boisoneau’s walking basslines on the upright bass syncing with Yontef’s syncopated drumming.
One of the most engaging aspects of the performance was that the groups feature members of the larger jazz ensemble, allowing its individual members to shine through in a more personal setting.
In particular, Tea for Seven featured multiple members of the greater ensemble, including pianist Isadore Palacpac, guitarist Colin Quigley and drummer Sean Byington, who make up the backbone of the ensemble’s rhythm section. Tea for Seven also featured trumpeter Michael Rentz and tenor saxophonist Michael Farina, two talented musicians who took extended solos at the jazz ensemble’s last performance at von der Mehden in October.
Another group with a vibrant sound was Three on 3. The six-member group was highlighted by the saxophone triple threat of Timothy Hoagland on alto saxophone, Haley Ducharme on tenor saxophone and Jack Wood on baritone saxophone.
From the start of their opening number, Duke Jordan’s “Jordu,” the three woodwind warriors worked in flowing harmony, making for a bright, energetic sound. The trio also took turns soloing with each other, most notably during Chuck Wayne’s “Solar,” where each of them exchanged four-measure increments in a call-and-response segment.
The rest of Three on 3 consisted of a rhythm section featuring pianist Micah Fleischman, bassist Adam Desmarais and drummer Julian Diamond. Diamond took the reins as the driving force of the band, delivering a series of solos with smooth triplet rolls and perfectly accented cymbal hits. He also complimented his bandmates’ solos by introducing variations for each one, going from light swing grooves on the ride cymbal to marching band-esque snare to keep the solos fresh and lively.