Saturday evening the Barbary Coast jazz ensemble paid tribute to Sun Ra, the innovative pianist and composer who died this past May.
Under the direction of Music Professor Don Glasgo, the ensemble rendered a selection of Ra's compositions with tremendous energy and conviction, captivating an audience of nearly 500.
Improvisation and syncopation are two fundamentals of jazz that come out in Ra's work.
Guest artists Micael Ray and Marshall Jackson, on trumpet and alto saxophone respectively, performed extraordinary solo passages rich in technical proficiency and the expressive possibilities of both instruments.
Particularly memorable was "Discipline 27/ No. 2," a hypnotic piece containing numerous contrasting rhythms played simultaneously by a wide range of percussion instruments including congos, tambourines and shakers.
Ray and Jackson were not the only stars of the evening. Ensemble members Laura Iwan '93 on trumpet, Sean Paley '94 on drums and Adam Kipple '92 and Luis Scheker '95 on piano all provided excellent solos.
Glasgo's "Dreams and Reflections," one of the few non-Ra pieces heard, drew a very positive audience response.
If Saturday's performance was indicative of Sun Ra's output and the Barbary Coast's musicianship, both deserve further investigation.
