Walking to New Orleans Fundraiser Concert, Essay Example

For this report, I attended a performance entitled “Walking to New Orleans Fundraiser Concert”. The performance was put on by the Grossmont College music department. The compositions featured the trumpet, bass, saxophone, clarinet, drums, and other percussion instruments. The highlight of the performance is that it featured artist Ken Ard, who trained in New Orleans himself and was therefore able to contribute significantly to the feel of the music. Most notably, he has performed alongside Ellis Marsalis, who is well-known for performing this style of music. Interestingly, he has a private piano studio in his own home, which allows him to regularly practice and perfect his technique. Ken Ard added a component of liveliness to the music that was performed.

Before viewing this performance, I had associated New Orleans with the jazz movement. Although I do not choose to listen to jazz regularly on my own, I am primarily familiar with jazz music that has played in restaurants and other public areas. During my high school education, I learned about the Harlem Renaissance, and it appeared to me that the jazz music performed in New York City was similar to the jazz music played in Louisiana. However, this performance showed me that everything that I knew about jazz was incorrect. The music played at this particular concert was unique from anything that I had heard previously. I am accustomed to jazz being slow and having a sort of blues feel. While some of this was incorporated into the music performed in this concert, there were also a lot of elements of energy and excitement added. Through this emphasis, it is apparent that the performers were aware of their skill and used this in a manner to introduce the culture of New Orleans to the audience. Even if the performers have never been to this part of the United States, it would not have been apparent from the show that they put on.

It was challenging to determine whether the compositions were originals. However, it is likely that they are well-known songs that the artists added their own interpretation to. Since I have never heard these songs before, it is difficult for me to say whether or not they were altered by the performers. Furthermore, there was a lot of variety in the pieces. The notes seemed to keep moving and there was never a dull moment. It sounds extremely surprising when the band plays softly and then all of a sudden they reach a crescendo and fill the room with sound. The performers were neither too active nor too sedate. They appeared to respond appropriately to the music that they were producing throughout the performance. In addition, it did not appear that the band relied on the presence of a conductor. Jazz music does not typically utilize a conductor, so it is not surprising that the band preserved this cultural normality.

The presentation was engaging, although I do not believe that this type of music is meant to sit down and listen to. It is more likely meant for dance or other forms of celebration. However, it was enjoyable despite the seemingly misfit venue. It does not appear that the order of the pieces were significant in terms of time period because all songs presented are meant to characterize New Orleans. As such, these pieces could be presented in any order as long as they characterize this area. There was not an emphasis on words either; it appears that this type of music is something that one could scat to, so any meaning of words would be irrelevant in this type of music.

The program notes were not very comprehensive, although it was valuable to learn about Ken Ard who seems to specialize in this type of music. It is likely that the musicians that worked with him were grateful to have someone with a high level of expertise work with them to produce this concert. Overall, the performance would have been more valuable if I were able to understand the rationale the artists had for picking the songs they did. Although it is apparent that all selections met a common theme, I expect most concerts to have music that tell stories and I couldn’t determine whether this is what this group was trying to do. This concert is one of the better ones I have seen in terms of the movement of the musicians in addition to the genre of music. I find it challenging to connect with classical music even though I am more familiar with it. The music of New Orleans appears to be more lively and more in tune with this generation. If I were from this area, it is likely that I would enjoy this style of music more significantly and have been familiar with the pieces played. I would attempt to view this band once more if they develop a different arrangement. Each individual appeared to be very talented and entertaining.