FORT McPHERSON, Ga. April 8, 2010 - The Jazz Guardians, The Army Ground Forces Band's premier jazz ensemble, performed at Wesleyan College as part of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon, Ga., in late March.
The cherry trees were abloom with beautiful billows of light pink blossoms, and the citizens of Macon were out in the gorgeous spring weather enjoying the festivities involved with the annual festival. Once the sun went down, many people ventured into the college's performing arts center to hear the Jazz Guardians.
Under the direction of Master Sgt. John Jacobs, the Guardians opened the performance with several Big Band standards that delighted the audience.
Spc. Jake Stith, in his first performance with the Guardians, was then featured on vocals and guitar with a small jazz combo performing "I've Got It Bad," music by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn and lyrics by Paul Francis Webster and "Tangerine," composed by Georgia's own Johnny Mercer with lyrics by Victor Schertzinger. Stith captivated the audience with his smooth guitar melodies and singing reminiscent of Harry Connick Jr.
One of the highlights of the evening's performance was Spc. Robert Egan's drumming on "Dancing Men," made famous by the Buddy Rich Big Band. Master Sgt. Jacobs praised Egan's skills as some of the most masterful drumming he's heard in his 21 years in the Army.
Jacobs also fronted the band with several vocal tunes such as "Fever," "Old Black Magic," "Sway" and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." The audience snapped their fingers and even sang along with Count Basie's "Every Day (I have the blues)."
Laughter was heard throughout the theatre as Jacobs informed the audience they would be performing a vocal part on "Mambo Swing" by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. After a quick rehearsal, the audience responded exuberantly to their newly learned vocal part, which prompted applause from the band.
The show closed with a jazz arrangement of the national march, John Philip Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever." The traditional piccolo solo was played by Spc. Manuel Pelayo on soprano saxophone in his first performance ever with the Guardians. The audience loved the selection and clapped along with patriotic pride.
The Jazz Guardian's performance at the Cherry Blossom Festival was well received by the more than 800 people in attendance. Their broad smiles as they left the auditorium were evidence of their appreciation of the Soldier-musicians' great talents.
Social Sharing