Enjoy a midweek evening taking in the enjoyable sounds of the Greenwich High School Percussion and Jazz Ensembles, Jazz Lab, Concert and Combined Bands under the direction of John S. Yoon, Director of Bands and Ben M. Walker, Associate Director of Bands, on Wednesday, June 7.
The entertaining evening will be special, as it will not only be the last concert performance of the year but it will be a time to honor the 24 graduating seniors.
The Pops evening will begin with the Percussion Ensemble’s performance of Valley of Napal by Chris Brooks. The exotic melodies and syncopated rhythms work hand in hand in this hard grooving piece. Next, the audience will enjoy Enter Sandman by James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich and Kirk Hammett Arr. Ben M. Walker. This 1991 hit from metal masters Metallica, has become a rock standard.
The Jazz Lab Band will take the stage next to perform, Backburner, a bright bluesy piece – by Carl Strommen. The second piece, Tiger of San Pedro by John LaBarbera is an exciting version of the great Latin piece with fiery samba like rhythms.
The Jazz Ensemble will take the GHS PAC stage and the audience will be treated to two very popular 70s tunes: Isn’t She Lovely by Stevie Wonder, arranged, especially for a jazz ensemble, and then, one of the first songs to put the group Chicago on the map, Make Me Smile by James Pankow.
As always, the intermission bake sale proceeds support the band program and future trips.
The classic western theme, The Magnificent Steven by Elmer Bernstein Arr. Roy Phillippe will start the second half when the Concert Band takes the stage. Next, they will perform a Latin classic, The Peanut Vendor (El Manisero) by Moises Simons Arr. John Moss. This piece is arguably the most famous music created by a Cuban musician.
The Concert Band concludes their performance with Queen in Concert Arr. by Jay Bobcok. This arrangement by Jay Bobcok includes: We Will Rock You; Another One Bites The Dust; Bohemian Rhapsody and We Are The Champions.
To conclude the Band Pops Concert the Combined Band will take the stage for the evenings’ final performance.
First the band will perform one of the most popular tangos in Argentina, El Choclo (Argentine Tango) by Angel Gregorio Villoldo. Next, the audience will be treated to The Beatles Love by John Lennon and Paul McCartney Arr. Jay Bocook. Love was effectively adapted for the concert stage by Jay Bocook. This medley features very familiar Beatles hits that will delight everyone.
The evening will conclude with two more pieces. Loch Lomond Arr. Frank Ticheli. In this composition the final statement of the theme is particularly enchanting as the melody is intertwined with the Irish tune Danny Boy.
The last piece, The Divine Comedy, The Inferno by Robert W. Smith will end the evening.
The concert takes place at Greenwich High School Performing Arts Center, 10 Hillside Rd.
