Music professor Mario Silva welcomed the audience — standing center stage — while the crowd burst with excitement. Every musician stood prepared, instruments in position, ready to play jazz compositions that would highlight their individual and collective talents.
On Sept. 25, the Las Positas College Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Faculty Combo, joined by guest artist Dayna Stephens, took to the Mertes Main Stage for an evening of live jazz music.
The concert featured student and faculty performers, original compositions and jazz standards.
The Jazz Ensemble opened with “Now’s the Time” by Charlie Parker. According to the music department, the group had three rehearsals to prepare. The set included “Little Sunflower” by Freddie Hubbard, featuring LPC student Matteo Kramer on trumpet, and “Chameleon” by Herbie Hancock.
“We just have a lot of really talented students,” said Dan Marschak, music professor and co-coordinator of the LPC music department.
Opportunities for students interested in jazz music and performance at LPC have expanded in both size and reach in recent years. “Every year just keeps growing and growing, and it’s all of our jazz faculty,” said Cindy Browne Rosefield, LPC director of instrumental music.
The jazz studies certificate program includes coursework in performance, theory, history and improvisation. Students can also gain performance experience through groups such as the Vocal Jazz Ensemble and the smaller Jazz Combos.
When asked if these courses were accessible to beginners, Marschak pointed to one of the program’s introductory courses.
“Yeah, absolutely. I mean, improv lab in particular, because like if you said, ‘oh, well, I’ve never been in an ensemble before.’ Okay, here’s a triangle. Go there,” he said. “It’s really about just building community and getting everyone to find a place here.”
LPC also hosts an annual four-day camp for middle and high school students interested in jazz. The camp includes lessons in improvisation, theory and performance, and concludes with a public concert on the Mertes Main Stage. Students work with LPC faculty and alumni throughout the camp.
In addition to teaching, the LPC jazz faculty are active performers. They coordinate with the Livermore Jazz Society to hold community events, including free jam sessions where students and professionals can perform together in an informal setting.
“We all work well together, the faculty, but the students are bringing in a lot of good energy,” said Rosefield.
The Jazz Faculty Combos, joined by Stephens, performed four songs. Two were original compositions: “Hopium” (“Familiar”) by Stephens and “Retracing Steps” by Marschak.
Stephens, a world-renowned saxophonist, was in town for the concert. He was called an “old friend” and a “star” by Silva, who played the trumpet during the performance.
The performance included both student and faculty musicians and drew attention to the growth of LPC’s Jazz program. Enrollment in jazz studies has increased in recent semesters, and the program continues to expand its presence in the Tri-Valley music community.
Marschak said, “It’s really about just building community and getting everyone involved, you know, finding a place here.”
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TOP PHOTO: From left to right, Cindy Browne Rosefield, Mario Silva, Andreas Preponis, and guest star Dayna Stephens performing “Hopium” (“Familiar”) at the LPC jazz show on Sept. 25. (Picture by Milo Jones/The Express)
Milo Jones is a staff writer for The Express.
