The Jazz Festival took place at Colorado Mesa University’s Robinson Theatre on May 6, starting with festival performances at 8 a.m. and concluding with an evening performance at 7:30 p.m.
Vocal and instrumental jazz ensembles from both middle and high school levels registered for the event, which included performances and clinics.
One outstanding ensemble was selected to perform with CMU’s jazz ensembles during the evening performance; after judging from clinicians, Fruita Monument High School’s jazz band opened for the university performances.
Following FMHS’s performance, the CMU Vocal Chords took the stage to perform five pieces: “Come Fly With Me” arranged by Kirby Shaw, “Gravity” by Sara Bareilles and arranged by Matthew Hodge, “Oblivion” arranged by Oscar Escalada, “And So It Goes” by Billy Joel and arranged by Bob Chilcott and “Feelin’ Good” arranged by Stephen Calgaro.
Mckenzie Moore for The Criterion 
Mckenzie Moore for The Criterion
The vocal performances ranged in genre, including a cappella renditions of songs and featured soloists.
The CMU Jazz Ensemble closed out the evening with another five pieces: “Mambo de Memo” by Matt Harris, “Both of Me” by Kevin Brunkhorst, “Great Northern Express” by Fred Storm, “If Steve McQueen Were Here” by Kevin Brunkhorst and “Every Summer Night” by Pat Metheny and arranged by Bob Curnow.
Each piece featured soloists from various instrument sections, including brass, piano, woodwinds and percussion.
The performance also featured guitarist Kevin Brunkhorst, who performed with the CMU Jazz Ensemble and was a clinician during the festival. According to his bio in the program notes, “Kevin Brunkhorst is an American-born guitarist who splits his time between the Midwest and his job as Chair of the Music Department at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.”
Mckenzie Moore for The Criterion
Performances from all ensembles were met with standing ovations from an audience consisting of students, community members and members of student jazz ensembles that had attended the festival. The Jazz Festival was the final jazz concert for the 2018-2019 performance season and the Guest Artist Series.
Moss Performing Arts will continue its music season with the spring choir concert on May 9 and a wind symphony performance on May 10.
