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Jazz sizzles at the Radisson
By Regina Eckes
Published:
Tuesday, April 15, 2003
Media Credit: scott theisen
The SCSU Faculty Jazz Quintet performs with vocalist Charmin Michelle at the Radisson Hotel. The Faculty Jazz Quintet performs blues and jazz classics once a month at the Radisson.
Classic blues and swinging jazz could be heard resounding through the Radisson Hotel Friday night as the Faculty Jazz Quintet played two sets. Starting at 7:30 p.m., community members and students packed the main lounge, leaving no plush chair or couch empty. The evening had a classy atmosphere with dim lights, luminous candles and complimentary smooth jazz in the background.
The Faculty Jazz Quintet has been together for seven years with virtually the same members. Kim Gast heads up the group and plays saxophone. Gy Levilain plays trombone, Bruce Hienie picks at the standing bass while Dave Stanoch adds rhythm on the drums. Although not a faculty member herself, Mary Louise Knutson rattles the piano keys and guest vocalist Charmin Michelle adds a soulful touch to many songs. Each member of the quintet got a chance to shine with his or her improvisations in virtually every song.
The music the quintet performs does not cover one era or type of jazz alone. The Faculty Jazz Quintet makes sure to have an eclectic set spanning over several decades.
"We do a lot of straight ahead jazz; I would say anything from 1945 to the 1970's.
Our vocalist does a lot of Billie Holiday tunes and stuff like that," Gast told the University Chronicle. Gast was also quick to point out the quintet normally plays in front of a full house. They even have community members who regularly attend their shows at the Radisson every month.
Chester and Mary Edwards are true fans of the quintet. They will be married 33 years this coming June, and Mary teaches economics at SCSU while Chester is retired from the army. Both enjoy jazz and know almost everyone in the group. They make it a point to try not to miss a performance.
"It's great. We're usually always here," Chester said. The Edwards have also observed the way the quintet plays together. Although many bands can play jazz, it is the chemistry between the members of a group that can set them apart from the rest.
"They know how to work together and they know how to work off of other people's cues," Mary said. "They are really working together and blending well and building their improvisations off of each other."
Many students also attended the quintet's show. While several were only there because of a music class requirement, Amy Eisenstadt and her friend Kelly Keiser attended because they simply enjoy jazz and know members of the group.
"I play in the jazz band at St. Cloud. Kim's my teacher and an awesome sax player," Eisenstadt said during the break after the first set. But knowing Gast was not her only reason for attending."There's not a lot to do in St. Cloud so I enjoy coming every month. I've been coming to it for the last like five years," Eisenstadt said.
The Faculty Jazz Quintet plays at the Radisson once a month from September to May. Their next show is scheduled for May 2 at 7:30 p.m. Besides the Radisson, the Quintet plays dinners, parties and other engagements. Because their shows are free, they receive sponsorship from the Central Minnesota Arts Board, St. Cloud Rotary Club and the SCSU Music Department.
Gast, and the rest of the quintet, truly enjoy giving the St. Cloud community something to enjoy once a month in a classy setting.
"It's a great performance outlet for all of us," Gast said. "There's not a lot of live jazz in St. Cloud so it provides an opportunity once a month for St. Cloud area residents in the community to come out and hear live jazz."
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