EIU’s Jazz Lab Band, Vanguard Quintet, Birdland Septet, Blue Note Quintet, and the EIU Jazz Ensemble performed Thursday night in the Dounda Fine Arts Center.

With the hall was packed with students, family, and friends, the first band to perform was the EIU Jazz Lab Band performing three songs; “Satin Doll,” “Here’s that Rainy Day,” and “Jump.”

In total of 10 pieces were played. Stephanie Erin, a sophomore music major, said since her major is music she has to learn about jazz.

“It’s another learning experience,” Erin said.

Erin said she would definitely attend more jazz concerts in the future.

Chelsea Johnston, a senior psychology major, admitted to not liking jazz music before the concert, but after, she said she enjoyed the performance and had fun watching the concert.

Erin said she was very impressed with the performance and her favorite composition was “Here’s that Rainy Day.”

Alex Whalen, a junior transfer student and guitarist for the Jazz Lab Band, got a positive reaction from the crowd during the several solos he performed during the concert.

Whalen received the Brian Reed Award in Jazz Excellence.

Whalen said his instructor from band camp at Eastern, Scott Hesse, encouraged and taught him how to play jazz.

Whalen said that he doesn’t play just any type of jazz, he plays “punk jazz.”

Whalen described punk jazz as a sub-genre of jazz that has no rules.

“Punk Jazz, they do what they want wear what they want,” he said.

Whalen’s example of a “punk jazz” artist was Pat Metheny, who is a jazz composer and guitarist. Metheny is known his for songs “Are You Going Home With Me?” and “As It Is.”

The audience was interested and paid close attention to every performance.

Each soloist received applause after their solos, and some audience members said that they were impressed and found the performance a success.

This is the first concert from the EIU Jazz Ensemble and the EIU Jazz Lab Band of the semester.

In addition, the coach of the Vanguard Quintet, Paul Johnston, said that this concert was the first concert at Eastern where a violinist performed jazz in 10 years. The violinist performing was James Calderon.

The performance ran for about an hour. More performances will be held throughout the year.

Stephanie Ciesla can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].