Jazz Ensemble Performs 22nd Annual Winter Jazz Concert at Majestic

By Xavier Harding

Yesterday, February 19, the Majestic Theater hosted Gettysburg College’s 22^nd Annual Winter Jazz Concert. Directed by John “Buzz” Jones, Gettysburg’s jazz ensemble played songs such as “Georgia On My Mind” by Hoagy Carmichael (1931), “Quien Sera” by Pablo Beltran Ruiz & Norman Gimbel (1954) and “I’m Beginning To See The Light “by Duke Ellington (1944). The students of the ensemble had the fortunate opportunity of playing with saxophonist Denis DiBlasio.

DiBlasio is the Director of the Jazz Department at Rowan University located in Glassboro, New Jersey and a well-accomplished saxophone player. Prior to joining Rowan, DiBlasio played in the big band of trumpeter Maynard Ferguson and spent five years as his Musical Director. With over 30 albums, Denis DiBlasio is well experienced in the field of music.

The Gettysburg College Jazz Ensemble was recently part of the Northern Lights Tour last year traveling to New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania and toured Europe in 2008, performing in Amsterdam, Paris, Heidelberg, Bruges, Athens, and Venice. The ensemble plans on performing at major European jazz festivals again in July 2011.