The moody swing of jazz reverberates throughout the Bates Concert Hall on the University of Texas campus. The acoustics only accentuate the blend of the different instruments coming together to compose a single melody. On Saturday, April 6, the Westwood Jazz Orchestra (JO) showcased their talent at the University of Texas (UT) Jazz Festival.
The festival is a free event where schools can showcase their bands, and this is the second year that the JO has performed at the festival. The JO has increased the difficulty of the pieces from the previous year, performing Libertango by Astor Piazzolla and arranged by Michael Mossman, A Song For You by Leon Russel and arranged by Mark Taylor, and Lady Bird arranged by Mark Taylor. The JO has been rehearsing since last December under the direction of Daniel Bechdolt.
“There was a considerable amount of work we put into this program, after all, we only rehearsed once a week,” bass trombone player Cayden Bauer ‘25 said. “We made the most of it though, [and] the pieces we put together sound good.”
Performing at the festival meant that the JO would have a chance to receive the “Outstanding Band of the Day” award, and have the opportunity to perform again after the UT JO concert. Though they didn’t receive the award, the JO took it as an opportunity to grow.
“It sucked that we didn’t get to perform again,” trumpet player Adaline Boyd ‘26 said. “We can only get better from now, and I look forward to it.”
The JO will perform again on Sunday, May 5 at the Parker Jazz Club.
