At LSU, the summers are hot and the jazz is cool.
The annual “Hot Summer Nights and Cool Jazz” series at the School of Music Recital Hall began on June 8 and concludes on July 7.
School of Music professors Bill Grimes and Willis Delony organized the event about 10 years ago as a faculty recital, but it expanded into a series of six distinct concerts in 2002. The music sets include the same rhythm section with new guest artists each night.
“It’s a chance for us to play music on a high artistic level with some great guest artists,” said Grimes, who has previously collaborated with jazz guitarist Joe Pass and pianist Bill Dobbins.
In addition to Grimes on bass, Delony on piano and Baton Rouge drummer Troy Davis, the concert included jazz vocalist Rosana Eckert and saxophonist Tony Dagradi for the first performance. Eckert released her first solo CD, “At the End of the Day,” in 2003, and Dagradi is part of the New Orleans Astral Project.
“Some of our guests are bringing their own songs, so we’re looking forward to learning a few new things,” Delony said.
The group played a combination of standard jazz compositions and original songs by Eckert, such as “I Know I’ve Seen This Thing Before” and “Lament,” which was inspired by the life of jazz pianist Thelonious Monk.
“You can really feel the soul in the music,” said La’Netha Jefferson, a music education junior. “It’s beautiful.”
For the second performance, the rhythm section and Dagradi were joined by trumpeter Mark Braud.
The concert series will resume on June 22 with performances by trumpeter Rex Richardson and tenor saxophonist Jason Hainsworth. In addition to a second appearance by Hainsworth, the June 23 show will also feature trumpeter Bobby Campo.
On July 6, jazz vocalist Philip Manuel will accompany Grimes, Delony and Davis for a special, themed performance called “A Tribute to Nat King Cole.” For the final show on July 7, the rhythm section and Manuel will wrap up the series.
“I’ve been coming to these concerts for three or four years and they get better each year,” said Laurence Hebert, a music graduate student.
In the past several years, the concert series has sold out quickly, so Grimes said that guests should either pre-order their tickets from the School of Music or arrive at the Recital Hall early. Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for students with a student ID.
Contact Angelle Barbazon at [email protected]