Little by little, more people began to fill the Coffeehouse
Thursday at 7 p.m. in expectations to hear a live jazz
performance.
The Heartland Jazz Orchestra, all wearing suits and
ties, readied their instruments for a night of upbeat
entertainment. As the director, Doug Tidaback, prompted
the performers to perform, the dimly lit room became
a concert hall filled with old-time jazz.
Composed mostly of brass, their trumpets, trombones
and saxophones erupted with energy with a smooth professional
style.
As the audience grew in number, the performance increased
in surging radiance.
Of the most impressive aspects of the orchestra were
their solos. Each one was excellently executed with
flying fingers and squinted eyelids.
Performing songs which they normally play such as "Take
the A Train" and "Blues for Waldo,"
they did the classics justice.
The talent of the pianist was astounding. The
accuracy and speed at which Sean Parson's fingers moved was
jaw dropping. Applause inevitably followed each solo
and song due to the impressive nature of their music
making.
With their bassist, Lindsay Wade, still in high school,
the orchestra had talented players old and young.
Tidaback has been playing music for years and has performed
with Harry Connick Jr., Natalie Cole, Aretha Franklin,
The Temptations, The Supremes, and Ella Fitzgerald.
With his guidance, the tempo stayed accurate and the
volume was kept in check.
Their guest artist at the Coffeehouse was Tom Garling
who played the trombone.
There was no way to avoid the sheer intensity at which
this man performed. Pushed and pulling the slide at
speeds the eye could not comprehend, Garling's eyes
clamped shut as he become lost in the moment of making
memorable music.
The collaboration of so much talent not only kept the
full house awake, but also kept their toes tapping
and heads bobbing to the beat of classic jazz music.
Copyright 2001 Daily Vidette