The Journal

Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: Lifestyle

Media Credit: Max Gersh Pianist Ryan Marquez and the rest of his group open the second night of jazz combos Nov. 12 in the Winifred Moore Auditorium.

As the audience members settled into their seats they were pulled into the harmonic movement of the rhythmic, upbeat, Latin ballad, "Lonely Holiday."

In the Winifred Moore Auditorium about 160 students, faculty and community members were treated Nov. 12 to the classic sounds of five Webster University jazz combos. From the smooth, sexy sounds of "Our Spanish Love Song" to the bluesy rhythms of "Millie's Pad," the jazz combos presented a mix of jazz classics spanning the last few decades.

Director Willem von Hombracht, an adjunct music professor, presented two of his combo groups along with directors Tom Byrne and Willie Akins. Von Hombracht and Akins both performed with their groups.

The first musical selections of the evening were "?" by Nguyen Le and "Lonely Holiday" by Gary Wittner. Wittner and von Hombracht taught together at the International Summer Jazz Academy in Poland. The academy is where von Hombracht also wrote and recorded his CD "Krakovians" in 2006. His second combo group played a single from the CD called "Night (A Prayer for Peace)." Von Hombracht said he picked the song because it was beautiful and challenging for the musicians.

Ryan Marquez, a junior jazz performance major, played piano in both of von Hombracht's groups to fulfill a course requirement. He had the choice to play in one group and then take a general education course, but Marquez chose to stick with music. He said he could see his own musical growth in the groups.

"(I was) definitely forced to improve," Marquez said. "You get to play with a lot of other talented musicians and in different styles than you're used to."

Donna Marquez, Ryan's mother, was also in attendance. She said although she misses some of the shows Ryan plays with his jazz band Fresh Heir, she had gone to every school performance since his freshman year even though she lives in Kansas City, Mo.

Donna said she enjoyed the pieces "This I Dig of You" by Hank Mobley, performed by the second combo group Ryan was involved with. She also said she enjoyed "St. Thomas" by Sonny Rollins and the combo directed by Tom Byrne, but Donna said she was a fan of Rollins before the show.

Continued...

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