Jones Auditorium echoed with harmonies and melodies as Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) celebrated its 52nd Annual Jazz Festival. Each year several bands around the region are invited to TAMUK to showcase their talent and exalt the groovy beat of jazz.
This year a total of 33 bands were welcomed to TAMUK by the music department on March 29 and 30.
During the festival a special guest is featured, this year, Grammy-Award winning percussionist Bernie Dresel joined TAMUK’s very own Jazz Band I on stage.
On March 29, buses from all over Texas arrived at TAMUK to compete and be ranked. Competitors were also able to receive constructive criticism from a panel of judges to help them improve and strengthen their performance.
The Jazz Festival officially began around 2:45 p.m. and concluded with a night filled with performances by TAMUK’s Latin Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Band IV and Jazz Band III.
The performances were followed by a small award ceremony recognizing the talent of middle school jazz musicians.
“My favorite part of the festival specifically is to be hearing how many jazz players are around this region that can come here and play high-quality jazz music, and it just makes me happy hearing this many young people like jazz, especially the middle school age. They are going to carry on the tradition of American music, like the jazz music and that makes me very enthusiastic,” said Kyle Millsap, director of Jazz Band II.
The festival continued Saturday with high school jazz bands performing in Jones Auditorium. Each band competed for a division one or superior rating on their performance. During the competition judges rank the band as a group, and award soloists for their outstanding performance.
As a TAMUK tradition, a rotating trophy is awarded to the most “outstanding band” throughout the day and is announced during the evening award ceremony.
The ceremony emphasized the talent of many high school students with high music potential, and announced each band’s final rating.
Although the 52nd Annual Jazz Festival was composed of several competitions, it offers many students an opportunity for exposure.
Jazz allows for creativity to flow directly out of musical instruments and turn into uplifting vibrant energy for the audience to enjoy.
“Jazz really grooves really well, people who like dancing can dance with it…it’s less about the define arch form like classic music can be, and more about having fun, grooving, being cool… This is very rewarding, it’s very rewarding performing with my students just to be able to share the art form with them. It feels freeing to be up there when you get to play this kind of music,” said Dr. Thomas Zinninger, assistant sax director.
The Jazz Festival wrapped up with Jazz Band I featuring Bernie Dresel on percussion under the direction of Dr. Paul Hageman. Dresel has traveled the world as a drummer for the multi-Grammy Award-winning Brian Setzer Orchestra.
His works can be distinctly heard on Incredibles 2, Family Guy, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story amongst countless other films. Recently, Dresel now leads his own big band called the The BBB Featuring Bernie Dresel.
Dresel has also been named “Best Big Band Drummer” and has earned a place in the list of “53 Drummers Who Made a Difference in the ’90s.”
While arriving at TAMUK, Dressel offered clinics to help students improve their musicianship skills.
“I like the challenge of jazz, I like the importance of it to our musical culture, without culture our society has nothing and jazz is a great art form worth keeping alive.
“I love playing it and making people happy that they get to hear it… I feel honored to be selected to be here, there is so many great musicians in the world and different people they could have asked to do it, to come here, and find the beautiful people everyone is so nice and friendly and intelligent and open.. it’s just a great experience ” said Bernie Dresel, award-winning percussionist.
