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OSU Jazz Orchestra: Room 118

By Jack Bowers
December 6, 2021
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Room 118 honors the space in the Seretean Center for the Performing Arts wherein the splendid Oklahoma State University Jazz Orchestra and other on-campus jazz groups held their rehearsals for many years. There must be something special there, as the OSU ensemble is one of the most well-rehearsed university-level jazz ensembles you're likely to encounter this side of the University of North Texas—and even that comparison marks a very close call. Director Tommy Poole had the band burnished and ready to record its latest album, which, unlike those that preceded it, showcases the orchestra exclusively rather than sharing the spotlight with invited guest artists.

The word "band" should perhaps be pluralized, as three ensembles—albeit with largely identical personnel—were involved in the recording sessions, held in October 2018, May 2019 and December 2019. The Seretean Center, where the entire album was recorded, has since been replaced by the state-of-the-art McKnight Center for the Performing Arts. Poole chose the playlist with care: half a dozen familiar jazz evergreens encasing bright original compositions by

Wayne Wallace

trombone
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">Wayne Wallace and pianist

Dylan L Shadoan

piano
b.1997

" data-original-title="" title="">Dylan L Shadoan and closing with "I've Got What?," a digit-challenging contrafact of the Gershwin brothers' standard, "I've Got Rhythm" (complete with hair-raising saxophone soli).

The session opens with

Toshiko Akiyoshi

piano
b.1929

" data-original-title="" title="">Toshiko Akiyoshi's clever "Tuning Up," which gives the impression the orchestra is doing exactly that before the bluesy melody and rhythm emerge from the chaos. The ensemble handles it well, as do the soloists: Shadoan, baritone saxophonist

Matthew Howell

saxophone, baritone

" data-original-title="" title="">Matthew Howell, altos

Matthew Floeter

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Matthew Floeter and

Nathan Brooks

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Nathan Brooks, tenor

Kyle Fisher

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Kyle Fisher and trombonists

Jacob Eyler

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Jacob Eyler and

Seth Giles

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Seth Giles.

Bob Mintzer

saxophone
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Mintzer's lively "Art of the Big Band" is next (solos by Fisher, Shadoan and drummer

Ryan DeShazo

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Ryan DeShazo), followed by Herbie Hancock's sultry "Dolphin Dance," arranged by Mintzer and featuring Brooks, DeShazo and trombonist

Kyle Hunt

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Kyle Hunt. The tempo slows to a crawl on

Thad Jones

trumpet
1923 - 1986

" data-original-title="" title="">Thad Jones' warm-hearted "To You" (showcasing Shadoan and Hunt), then regains momentum on Ted Nash's rhythmic "5? Weeks" (trim solos by Floeter, DeShazo and guitarist Eric Eppstein).

Eppstein solos again with trombonist Hunt and trumpeter Tyler Murray on Shadoan's fanciful and funky "Dubious Dachshund" before the band takes it up a notch on

Horace Silver

piano
1928 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Horace Silver's assertive "Nutville" and Wallace's easy-riding "Fillmore Street Mambo" (dexterous solos by Floeter and vibraphonist

Howard Potter

" data-original-title="" title="">Howard Potter, added percussion by

Michael Bremo

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael Bremo) before ringing down the curtain with "I've Got What?" (solos by Hunt, Fisher and the hard-working DeShazo). Based on this sample, the opinion here is that "you're doin' fine, Oklahoma"—and that as far as big-band jazz is concerned, Stillwater runs deep and should refresh anyone who pauses to enjoy a taste or more.

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Track Listing

Tuning Up; Art of the Big Band; Dolphin Dance; To You; 5 ? Weeks; Dubious Dachshund; Nutville; Fillmore Street Mambo; I��ve Got What?

Personnel

Tommy Poole

band / ensemble / orchestra

Matt Heron

trumpet

Ryan Hatcher

trumpet

Jacob Rylko

trumpet

Ben Chapman

trumpet

Steffi Tetzloff

trumpet

Nathan Brooks

saxophone, alto

Matthew Floeter

saxophone, alto

Kyle Fisher

saxophone, tenor

Abraham Nunez

saxophone, tenor

Matthew Howell

saxophone, baritone

Jacob Eyler

trombone

Kyle Hunt

trombone

Seth Giles

trombone

Elizabeth Toles

trombone, bass

Spencer Hudson

trombone, bass

Dylan L Shadoan

piano

Mickey Webster

bass, acoustic

Ryan DeShazo

drums

Additional Instrumentation

May 9, 2019��Matthew Heron, Jacob Rylko, Ben Chapman, Steffi Tetzloff: trumpet; Matthew Floeter, Nathan Brooks, Jonathan Coon: alto sax; Kyle Fisher, Abraham Nunez: tenor sax; Matthew Howell: baritone sax; Jacob Eyler, Kyle Hunt, Seth Giles: trombone; Elizabeth Toles: bass trombone; Eric Eppstein: guitar; Dylan Shadoan: piano; Mickey Webster: bass; Ryan DeShazo: drums. December 11, 2019��Ryan Hatcher, Jack Lollis, Tyler Murray, Clayton Chai: trumpet; Matthew Floeter, Bobby Stillman: alto sax; Kyle Fisher, Matthew Howell: tenor sax; Abraham Nunez: baritone sax; Garrett Martin, Kyle Hunt, Seth Giles: trombone; Spencer Hudson: bass trombone; Eric Eppstein: guitar; David Bruce: piano; Luciano Quezada: bass; Conor Gass: drums; Dylan Shadoan: Wurlitzer organ.

Album information

Title: Room 118 | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Self Produced

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