News

“Jazz on the Lawn” is a way to preview and promote Southwestern Michigan College’s fall band concert.

This year, the weather cooperated. Last October it spit snow.

With sunshine, summery 70s and color creeping into fall foliage, the flash-mob audience plopped down on the sidewalk, perched on the walls outside the Dale A. Lyons Building or pulled up one of the Adirondack chairs scattered around campus. Some ate lunch as they listened.

“Pictures” takes place Friday, Oct. 27, at 7:30 p.m. in the theatre of the Dale A. Lyons Building on the Dowagiac campus.

The free public concert features music inspired by the world of visual art, including Modest Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition,” Samuel Hazo’s “Blue and Green Music” and Stan Kenton’s “Opus in Chartreuse.”

The SMC Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo and Symphonic Band will perform.

“This is, by far, the best weather day we’ve had for this,” Director of Bands Mark Hollandsworth said. “We’re not going to have too many more of these beautiful days this fall.”

The Jazz Ensemble opened with “Opus in Chartreuse,” featuring alto saxophonist Reese Williams of Cassopolis and trombonist Damien Bell of Watervliet.

“The Art of the Matter,” inspired by the music of Art Blakey, featured trombonists Ryan Peterson of South Haven and Owen Lingle of Niles and tenor saxophonist Seth Kalina of Cassopolis.

Next up was the Jazz Combo, a voluntary extra-curricular group that meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, with “Blues Train.”

Kalina was featured again in “A Soundsketch,” by Bob Florence.

“If you come back Friday,” Hollandsworth said, “it will be a little different. That’s the beauty of improvisation. All the stuff you’re hearing is being created in the moment. We’re creating something in real time that’s never been heard before today.”