A dim, purple glow and soft jazz music were overbearing when the Union Program Council’s Black Culture and Music and Mayhem committees entertained a crowd of about 100 students for the “Elegance of Jazz” program Wednesday night.
Ian Navarre, communication studies junior and Black Culture committee chair, said “Elegance of Jazz” was a tradition of the past and the two committees thought it would be a good time to bring it back.
“This is the first time we’ve had this program in about three years,” Navarre said. “We thought it would be a great way to wrap up the end of the semester.”
Some People Playing, a jazz band made up of LSU and Southern University graduates, entertained students as they enjoyed wedding-reception style food and conversed with one another.
Eric Johnson, Some People Playing’s bass player, said the crowd was very welcoming to them.
“They received us very well and we can tell that they really appreciate this type of music,” Johnson said.
Kim Sampson, fashion design junior, said she was happy UPC sponsored this event because it was a way for her to have fun with her friends in an unusual setting.
“We wanted something different from the typical club scene,” Sampson said.
The event also welcomed representatives from LSU’s Sankofa Poets Society, who read to the crowd two poems they wrote.
The Society’s founder, Donald Lewis, an African American studies graduate student, said Sankofa, which means “you have to embrace your past to know your future,” is a way to help the LSU community learn more about black history and black culture.
“This event was a great way for people to hear new music,” Navarre said. “And it gave people who appreciate this type of music a chance to come out and really enjoy themselves.”