Why can't every night be like "Monday Night"?

...the “Monday Night” Jazz Ensemble that is.


On Tuesday, December 6th, if you were a cool cat, you were rolling on the jazz river at the University of Vermont Recital Hall; where viewers were privy to hot grooves as the big bang romped through a septuplet of jazz standards. If you were not among us, have no fear, just sit back and imagine what could have been.
The night warmed up with an aura of déjà vu as I was brought back to my high school jazz days. The band stretched out with Sonny Rollins’ Doxy and perked the crowd to a mood, eager for more, but it was merely a tease. Not yet. With a sudden twist of routine, they sunk into a cavernous rendition of Mingus’ Goodbye Pork Pie Hat. I found myself thrust into a mysterious presence, with only the sultry swoons of the tenor sax to keep me company. It glued me to the chair, eyes shut, ears open, with the kind of current that brings your every hair to life. After that, what more could there be?
Off to the work of Monk they spun with Well You Needn’t, a cunning rendition; followed by an entourage of Shiny Stockings, Hot House and How Sweet It Is, educating the audience in how to show it off like Foster, heat it up with Dameron and sugar-coat it for Nestico, all in a Monday Night. The cherry, was chosen wisely. With their most sincere intentions of stimulating, arousing and pleasing, the group began their long farewell of Con Alma by the unparalleled Dizzy Gillespie. It was a ripe choice of bebop and made a perfect closer, raising the senses of the audience and scheduling their next December 6th. Where will you be?


This was actually a concert report I was required to do for Music 6, but I figure this is a music blog, so why not.
Mad props to Mike Dunn for killin it on Goodbye Pork Pie Hat.
peace