What's a fire code?

After a little more than a month of post-audition prep the PLU Vocal Jazz Ensemble and Instrumental Jazz Ensemble lit up the stage in PLU's Scandinavian Cultural Center. Our early evening sound check was handled by a virtual army of sound men and women. Since this was our first concert in the SCC, everyone wanted to make certain that it truly sounded better than anything recorded in the hall I lovingly refer to as the Beautiful Toilet Bowl (a.k.a. Lagerquist Hall). With time to spare, everyone left after the sound check to get dressed and have a bite to eat. We returned to our performance place in the basement of the student union building and observed the crowds of people lining up to fill the room. Everyone in the group took some seats that lined the wall of the room but we were soon ousted from them to make space for what turned out to be a well over fire code crowd of nearly 380. I believe the room is rated at only about 250.

The rhythem section warmed up the audience as they packed the room. The choir took the stage first and blew through some strong arrangements of Night and Day, The Nearness of You, Centerpiece, and My Favorite Things. Nearly everyone in the group got to take a ride on an improv during the set, a few of which set the crowd a-roarin'. I'm sure we could've all been more comfortable on stage but I think we projected a pretty good vibe to the audience nonetheless. Once we closed our set the jazz band took over and played a lengthy set which, although sounded great, was full of somewhat more heady charts that the audience had more difficulty wrapping their minds around. The band's lengthy set forced Sarah and I to jet just before their last number simply because we were both just a little tired.

I think tonight began paving the way for the jazz choir's April journey to New York and Carnegie Hall. Until then, please send your donations to Kevin Freitas c/o The Kevin Freitas New York Trip Fund, 1401 N. 6th St., Tacoma, WA 98403.

Comments (0) | To Top