Spitzer inauguration included Latin Jazz Ensemble

The Latin Jazz Ensemble of the SUNY Fredonia School of Music performed at New York State Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s inauguration celebration held in Albany on January 1.

The ensemble was one of only three musical groups representing Western New York at the inauguration’s festivities. Since the students were home on winter break at the time, they traveled from Arkansas, Florida and other parts of the country to be able to perform at the event.

The ensemble is directed by School of Music faculty member John Bacon, who also serves as the group’s music arranger. Bacon said he was extremely pleased with the students’ performance at the inauguration as well as the experience and exposure the opportunity provided.

“It was our best performance of the year,” he said. “The students were very professional and represented themselves and the Fredonia School of Music with class and honor.”

According to Bacon, Governor Spitzer extended an invitation for all performers to meet him after the reception. Many of the other performers had already left the venue, Bacon said, and so the Fredonia students had the attention of the governor.

One of the ensemble members received a call from a relative informing her that the entire performance was broadcast on a New York City television station. Comments from ensemble members echoed the excitement expressed by Bacon.

“It was definitely one of the brightest moments in my college and musical career,” said ensemble vocalist Maria Perry.

The other students who are members of the ensemble are: trumpeters Dave Rydelnik and Michael Applebaum; trombonist Dan Pitnell; saxophonists Jill Carere, Mike Casey, Greg Danis, Tom Marinaro, Mitch Meyer and Kengo Yamada; vibraphonist Tom DeCillis; pianist Amalia Nagel; bassist Laura Kolb; guitarist Adam Vallone; drummer Mike Anthony; and percussionists Mitch Greco and Tom Coppola.

The Latin Jazz Ensemble was founded at the same time as the School of Music’s curricular jazz program. Director Bacon noted that while originally conceived as a combo, interest quickly enlarged the group to a small “big band,” featuring instrumental and vocal arrangements of Latin jazz classics and new ideas within the ever-expanding genre. Along with jazz instrumentation, the Latin group has an added percussion section including timbales, congas, hand percussion and vibraphone.

School of Music students are selected to join the Latin Jazz Ensemble through audition and personal invitation.