When a tornado damaged Jacksonville State University in March, the jazz ensemble musicians were left without their normal performance venue.
Now the University of Alabama at Birmingham Jazz Ensemble will share its fall concert with the JSU Jazz Ensemble on Wednesday, Nov. 14.
The concert is presented by the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Music and is set for 7 p.m. in UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center. Admission is free.
On the program are Gershwin’s “A Foggy Day,” “La Suerte De Los Tontos” by Johnny Richards, “Hope Rising” by Jim McNeely, “Blues in the Abscessed Tooth” by Matt Catingub, “Dream Scenes,” a commissioned work for JSU by Shane Porter, and the spiritual “Down by the Riverside.”
UAB’s jazz ensembles are led by Associate Professor Steve Roberts, DMA, and the JSU jazz ensembles are led by Andy Nevala.
Storm damage after a tornado hit the JSU campus, leaving the JSU Jazz Ensemble without their normal performance venue.“Andy will perform with the UAB band, and I will perform with the JSU band,” Roberts said. “I’ve set up a jam session at Brennan’s Irish Pub in Five Points South after the concert, so that all of the students can jam together.”
The JSU music facilities were left heavily damaged by the tornado, and it will probably be spring 2020 before the bands will be back in their own space, says Nevala.
“Every student in the ensemble was affected by the tornado,” Nevala said. “Some lost their homes. All of us have had our lives disrupted. Teachers hold class in different parts of town, any place they can. Students have to try to make it to classes that are miles away from each other; it’s a mess. But, when we do return to our space, it will be completely overhauled and brand-new.”