Bands from Azusa Pacific and Citrus Community College combine for their 11th annual performance. Photo by: Holly Hussman
Azusa Pacific’s Jazz Ensemble played alongside Citrus College’s Blue Note Orchestra for “Round 11” of its big band-style event in the Haugh Performing Arts Center for 685 attendees on opening night, March 21. With a total of 41 tuxedo-clad musicians between the two bands, accompanied by five vocalists and the APU Jazz Choir, the bands played jazz pingpong as they went back and forth performing songs to challenge one another.
“There are a number of faculty who teach at both schools, there’s a lot of friendship between the students and between the two schools,” David Beatty, director of commercial music at APU, said. “It’s a really good, healthy relationship with a little bit of competition thrown in.”
Beatty finds it important to maintain a relationship with Citrus through this event. There is a connection between the schools as many of the students who start at Citrus transfer to APU later.
The big bands event began years ago when longtime friends of 30 years, Beatty and Bob Slack, Citrus’ Fine and Performing Arts dean, were having a conversation and thought of the idea.
Both bands have become increasingly close over the years and look forward to this joint appearance as a time to spend together in music and friendship.
“There [are] little inside jokes that we hear in a comedic sense that the audience will never see, like someone will play a little lick here and there. We know as musicians,” said music major Armando Luis Duenas, a bass trombone player .
Duenas shared that the bands look forward to spending time together playing, chatting and eating in between working around their busy schedules.
“Both colleges make it a point to make us very busy, so when we have time to see each other for the few weeks we have, it’s fun,” Duenas said.
Besides the strong bond between the schools, APU’s music program prides itself in its professionalism and top-notch performance abilities.
“There’s a lot of jazz being played in a lot of schools, but I think there is a level of musicianship that happens here that is pretty rare,” Beatty said.
The evening featured traditional jazz elements, such as swing pieces and scatting, but also made the performance modern with tuba beat boxing, saxophone improvisation wars and an original composition. The bands came together at the beginning and end of the night as one soulful and spirited big band.
The two bands will play again Saturday, March 22 from 8 to 9:30 p.m. at the Haugh Performing Arts Center on Citrus’ campus. Tickets are $10 for students.