On Friday, October 17, the Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts hosted jazz trumpeter Jeremy Pelt and his band of musicians. The concert, open to all Colby students and members of the Waterville community, was the second show in an ongoing series showcasing various jazz musicians. The program’s final two shows are on November 7 and December 5, featuring bassist Brandi Disterheft and trumpeter Joe Magnarelli, respectively.
Continuing through the fall, the Colby Arts Jazz Concert Series, in partnership with Roots in Motion, focuses on presenting accessible jazz music to the Waterville community. Last Friday’s performance by Pelt included roughly an hour of his compositions, played by Pelt and an accompanying pianist, guitarist, bassist, and drummer. Many of these performers were former students of Pelt’s at William Paterson University, where he remains a professor.
One student in attendance noted how personal the experience felt, declaring it was as though she was “in a jazz club.” She continues, “Jeremy Pelt has clearly built a really beautiful community through his former students. His craft is impressive.”
Pelt’s performance featured a variety of songs from formerly and recently released tracks. He explained the origins of his songs and the process of creating art based on the world around him — citing his conversations with friends and other professionals as an inspiration for his music, the themes he hopes to communicate, and the feelings he strives to invoke within audience members.
The performance by Pelt and his band was both absorbing and emotional — a fusion of sentiments captured within the spirit of the trumpet, the mellow tune of the base, the dynamic riffs of the guitar, the elegance of the piano, and the energy of the drums. Pelt’s compositions fluctuated in intensity, incorporating softer ballads and stronger, lively tempos.
The show was organized beginning with an arrangement of songs and pausing on occasion for Pelt to provide personal anecdotes, stories about his band members, or narratives about his experience creating music. Pelt played a score which he previously wrote in Waterville at the Lockwood Hotel, and, describing his process for writing music, noted how an idea for a song can originate simply from one word. Pelt briefly examined his role as a jazz artist, the importance of producing Black art, and the dedication he has had to a career that promises no vast wealth or extreme acclaim. Rather, Pelt feels he has a responsibility to keep the style of music he loves alive, and to share the music he creates with others who have a shared appreciation.
As another student in attendance explains, Pelt “brought a lot of energy. [The concert] was a good opportunity for Colby students to take a step back from academics and listen to different genres of music throughout the jazz series.”
Similarly, for myself, the jazz series was an opportunity to interact with a form I’m not often exposed to. While listening to unfamiliar art can be overwhelming and intimidating, this series is designed to be accessible. It welcomes any audience member — regardless of prior musical knowledge — to recognize the value of jazz music, or, at the very least, be exposed to various crafts.
In support of this goal, the College is hosting two more events in conjunction with the jazz series. These final events will be located at Greene Block + Studios in Waterville, Maine, Colby’s off-campus home for programs and events related to the arts. The upcoming performances were organized in partnership with Dan Nicholas, the founder of Roots in Motion, and are committed to promoting jazz and other manifestations of roots music. Admissions are free to Colby students, faculty, and members of the surrounding community.
~ Maya Corrie `29
Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.
