2008 Woodie Awards
Student musicians gather to entertain at local brewery
By Andrew Carranza
Rocket Staff Writer
Issue date: 11/18/05 Section: Life
After a long weekend of partying and going out with friends, some Slippery Rock University students might be looking for a nice, relaxing Sunday afternoon to recoup, kick back and listen to live jazz music performed by some of their peers.
If so, the North Country Brewing Company, located in downtown Slippery Rock, might be just the place for you as SRU student musicians perform in jazz combos at the restaurant every other Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.
There are currently three jazz combos at SRU, all comprised of full-time music majors. Terry Steele, assistant professor in the music department, is the director of the combos and came up with the idea of performing at the brewery on Sundays with owner Bob McCafferty.
"When the micro-brewery first opened, I went with [McCafferty], and he was excited at the idea of live music," Steele said. "We run the jazz combos every other week, starting last March up to now."
Steele said McCafferty is very supportive of live music and has had bluegrass, folk, and other types of musicians perform at the brewery, in adition to the jazz combos.
"The restaurant is known as a place to hear music," Steele said.
Steele described the combos as "small group jazz," different from an 18-piece stage production. The three combos are comprised of five, six, and seven students respectively. Most of what they play can be described as standard jazz, although Steele encourages the student musicians to branch out.
"They play a lot of standard jazz tunes, such as Miles Davis," Steele said. "But I also encourage them to write new music. Students will also re-work old songs into modern styles as well. For example, they'll take a 1950's jazz song and add a hip-hop or funk type beat to it."
Mark Godwin, a junior music major, is in one of the jazz combos and played the saxophone at the brewery on Nov. 6.
"We played a lot of standard jazz," Godwin said. "The performance went very well and the audience received it very well. They were appreciative of our music."
If so, the North Country Brewing Company, located in downtown Slippery Rock, might be just the place for you as SRU student musicians perform in jazz combos at the restaurant every other Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.
There are currently three jazz combos at SRU, all comprised of full-time music majors. Terry Steele, assistant professor in the music department, is the director of the combos and came up with the idea of performing at the brewery on Sundays with owner Bob McCafferty.
"When the micro-brewery first opened, I went with [McCafferty], and he was excited at the idea of live music," Steele said. "We run the jazz combos every other week, starting last March up to now."
Steele said McCafferty is very supportive of live music and has had bluegrass, folk, and other types of musicians perform at the brewery, in adition to the jazz combos.
"The restaurant is known as a place to hear music," Steele said.
Steele described the combos as "small group jazz," different from an 18-piece stage production. The three combos are comprised of five, six, and seven students respectively. Most of what they play can be described as standard jazz, although Steele encourages the student musicians to branch out.
"They play a lot of standard jazz tunes, such as Miles Davis," Steele said. "But I also encourage them to write new music. Students will also re-work old songs into modern styles as well. For example, they'll take a 1950's jazz song and add a hip-hop or funk type beat to it."
Mark Godwin, a junior music major, is in one of the jazz combos and played the saxophone at the brewery on Nov. 6.
"We played a lot of standard jazz," Godwin said. "The performance went very well and the audience received it very well. They were appreciative of our music."
