BC Jazz Band and Jazz Singers perform for online audience

The Brazosport College Jazz Band perform a live concert for an online audience recently at The Clarion at Brazosport College.

For the first time in nearly eight months, the sound of live music echoed through The Clarion at Brazosport College.

With safety precautions in place, the Brazosport College Jazz Band and Jazz Singers recently took the stage to perform for an online audience of family and friends on the Clarion’s YouTube channel.

Most importantly for everyone involved, however, it was a welcome return to live music.

“What a glorious evening it was to get back to performing live music with students,” said BC Jazz Band Director Richard Birk. ”I am so proud of the students for their hard work and flexibility in these new and different circumstances. It has truly been a learning experience for all of us.”

The group performed 14 songs ranging from New Orleans jazz, salsas and bossa novas, to the works of musical greats Dizzy Gillespie and Quincy Jones, among other styles. The jazz band was directed by Birk and John Calderon, while Ben May and Calderon directed the jazz singers.

An archived recording of the full performance can be viewed on The Clarion at Brazosport College’s YouTube page.

For more information about Brazosport College’s Department of Music, email richard.birk@brazosport.edu.

Brazosport College Jazz Band members, from left, trombonists Dillon Fisk and Isaiah Lusko and alto saxophonist Jacob Myers are featured during the opening song of a recent concert at The Clarion at Brazosport College.

Philip Herrera of the Brazosport College Jazz Singers sings “A Day in the Life of a Fool” during a recent concert at The Clarion at Brazosport College.

Trombonist James Parsons performs during the Brazosport College Jazz Band and Jazz Singers concert recently at The Clarion at Brazosport College.

Alto saxophonist Yamilet Camarena performs during the Brazosport College Jazz Band and Jazz Singers concert at The Clarion at Brazosport College.