The first Jazz Band performance of fall 2025 was a success with a lively audience and a night of Jazz standards, as well as performances from special guest Brian Betz. The concert took place on Nov. 6 in Pfleeger Concert Hall and was led by Director Denis DiBlasio.
Brian Betz was invited to feature as a guest guitarist for the Jazz Band. Betz is a Rowan alum with two degrees from Rowan in music. Betz has won and competed in many jazz competitions and is a teacher at Paulsboro High School. In 2018, Betz was awarded as a “Top Teacher” in New Jersey by the NJEA and FOX 29. He has six CDs available through Dreambox Media Label.
The setlist for the night was unclear on the program, which is the lone critique of an otherwise perfect performance. Thankfully, some members of the Jazz Band were able to clear up what songs were performed.
The first number of the night was “Little Pixie II” by Thad Jones, which is a free-flowing, fun piece. There were two saxophone solos that were trading off with each other. It’s a playful number that could have anyone on their feet.
Sylvannus Jumbo, a trombone player and music composition junior, arranged a version of Smith and Mitchell’s “Fungi Mama” to be performed for the Rowan Jazz band. The song itself had a tropical feel with plenty of room for solos by various Jazz Band members.
Juliana Pagan is a sophomore computing and formatics major, who was at the show to see her boyfriend, Xavier Norwood, a trumpet player.
“He had a solo in the second song, and I lost track after a bit, but it was amazing,” said Pagan.
Pagan loved the performance and recommended that more people in the community come to shows.
“I’m a music person myself, so like I always love coming to these performances, even if you are not like a musician or not like a music person coming here for the vibes. Just coming here is amazing,” said Pagan.
Count Basie’s “Blues in Hoss Flat” was a swinging piece with Betz joining the group on the guitar. It’s a funky piece with the band cutting out at a portion to let Betz’s solo part shine.
John Coltrane’s “Impressions” is a jazz standard that also featured Betz with the band. The drum and guitar were playing off each other in this piece.
Michael Davis’s “Trombone Institute of Technology” is a percussion and trombone-focused piece that features soprano trombone. It was fun and fast.
“Blue Bossa” by Kenny Dorham is a percussion-heavy, focused piece, with Gino Antonelli on the bongos. It also featured a trombone solo.
“Brush Taps” by Louie Bellson and Mark Taylor, with the percussion part only played with brushes. It also featured a piano solo, with the horns moving in a similar way.
Brian Betz came on stage for one final moment with a quiet jazz guitar solo piece, Bonnell’s “Willow Weep for Me,” a jazz standard made famous by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.
The grand finale of the night was Methany’s “Minuano,” which was heroic, intimate, and emotional. It was a cinematic ending to the evening.
The performance was met with a standing ovation from the audience. After the concert, there was a reception with refreshments held in the lobby of Pfleeger Hall.
Musicians and audience members alike loved the finale “Minuano,” a stunning, cinematic jazz piece.
Lizzie Dickinson is an Rowan College of South Jersey student who came to see her friend perform in the ensemble.
“I really liked all of them, to be honest. The last one was really good; that one was very good. Even if you’re not a musician, this place is really cool to come to and see the performances,” said Dickinson.
Jack Crawford is a sophomore music education major who plays tenor saxophone in Jazz Band and has been an integral part of Jazz Band for this semester.
“I play saxophone and clarinet. Favorite piece, I would say the closer ‘Minuano,’ it was really good,” said Crawford.
Since Crawford has only been apart for this semester and this was his first performance in the Rowan Jazz Band, he found some parts more difficult than others, like switching instruments mid-show.
“Definitely the part where we all switched to clarinet, and even though I play clarinet, it was a difficult part, and switching the instruments out mid-show was kind of hard,” said Crawford.
With a student ID, Rowan students are able to see Rowan University concerts for free.
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