Ohio University graduates who played in the Jazz Ensembles will reunite at Casa Nueva, 4 W. State St., tonight for the second annual Bobcat Alumni Big Band Jazz Jam.
Mathew James, an associate professor in the School of Music at OU and the director of Jazz Ensembles, will be in charge of the reunion for the second year.
James said he’s excited about this year’s performance, and with roughly 20 alumni returning for the show, it’s just enough to create an ensemble.
The alumni range from graduating last year to graduating more than 20 years ago.
Ernest Bastin, a professor emeritus of trumpet, will help direct and play some of the tunes tonight.
There will be no rehearsal for the alumni prior to the show, Bastin said.
“It is possible that some of the alums have played some of the music before but not likely because they represent such a large span of years,” Bastin said.
First, the student Jazz Ensemble I will play, then Jazz Ensemble II followed by the alumni.
Many of the returning ensemble members have taken their music education and gone on to become teachers. According to James, a large portion of the returning alumni comprises music teachers at public schools and students in graduate school studying to become music teachers.
Saxophonist and 2010 alumna Kathleen Dean earned her degree in Music Education and Music Theory and is now pursuing a graduate degree in Arts Management at Carnegie Mellon University.
“I love having the opportunity to play in a group again,” said Dean. “The only time I really play saxophone is when I’m practicing by myself. Getting to play
in a full big band, having all of that sound behind you and around you, is
something that I’ve really missed.”
Casa Nueva is prepared for this Homecoming bash, which starts at 9:30 tonight, and the alumni, both young and old, seem ready to return to Athens and play with their fellow OU graduates.
“It’s going to be great returning to Athens to play there,” Dean said. “I loved my time in Athens, and the people that I met there. The evening is going to
be the perfect trifecta: friends, music, and Casa margaritas — who could
ask for anything more?”
de155170@ohiou.edu
