Another Successful Jazz Festival for NIC

 NIC’s Jazz Ensemble and Cardinal Voices performed at the annual NIC Jazz Festival on Feb. 7. 

Cardinal Voices started the concert with “Take Me to the River,” written by Al Green and Mabon “Teenie” Hodges. The song created an upbeat and happy atmosphere that continued throughout the night as both instruments and voices performed Jazz themed songs. Machaiah Bradshaw sang as a soloist for the Cardinal Voice’s first song and did an excellent job leading the song full of energy and talent. 

Laila Galaz playing bass

The group brought in the modern era with their version of “Rolling in the Deep,” originally performed by award-winning singer Adele. The audience was fully engaged with the song choices, and heads bobbed along as the Cardinal Voices next performed Smooth Operator with soloist Helen Larreau. This 1980s song was a great transition into the jazzy feeling that lasted throughout the remaining Cardinal Voices and the Jazz Band songs. 

Helen Larreau singing solo

Cardinal Voices also performed “How Deep is Your Love” with soloist Laila Galaz.

Galaz was one of the many students in this ensemble that sang and played an instrument. Although there was a microphone mishap, she and her fellow jazz singer quickly found a solution, making the audience fall in love with the group even more. 

This specific group of members of the Cardinal Voices started at the beginning of this Spring semester and had only five rehearsals to put the performance together. “We all practiced on our own time, and then we fine-tuned it when we were together,” Kia Bradshaw said. “I really loved that my homework was singing.”

NIC Jazz Ensemble

The Jazz Ensemble, directed by Bryan Hannaford,  took the stage next, performing “Bistro Latino.”

The band had the privilege of working with Jenny Kellogg and performed three songs composed by her. While they all were of the Jazz genre, each song had a unique flare and backstory that made each piece stand out.

Kellogg’s song, “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” was initially written overnight for a project needed the following morning. Each section added a unique touch to the song being played. 

The band performed wonderfully and had the audience engaged and cheering throughout and at the end of every song.

“Vegan Cheesecake meets the Meat Baby” was the final song performed and conducted by Kellogg and the NIC Jazz Ensemble. Before the song started, Kellogg told the story of how that title came to be. She said that performing this song was special tonight because it was the first time the band had heard that story, bringing enthusiasm to the song.

The program ended with guest James Schmehl on drums for the song “Sing, Sang, Sung.”