Trio jazzes up IMUG

I should have deluged my system with caffeine before seeing Ben Himpel Trio Friday. Jazz can really put you to sleep. Sitting in the IMU Gallery on one of those blue vinyl chairs that only mimic comfort, I was watching the people trickle in before the show, perhaps lured inside only with the promise of pretzels and soda. I admit I was a bit unsure what to expect from this concert, though I figured, with the Live from Bloomington committee sponsoring it through Union Board, you can't really go astray.\nBen Himpel Trio starts playing without introduction or much warning. They include graduate student Benjamin Himpel on saxophone, Paul Kirk on guitar and junior Jesse Wittman on bass. Himpel, name sake of the band, seemed to take the lead with melody, although at times he would cut out his instrument so that his band mates could showcase. Wittman plucked his bass and mostly kept the beat with his notes, while Kirk soared off with the rhythm like Himpel. Together they produced some good jazz, although they seemed to rely on no signature style to characterize, and I got bored by the fact that the show was purely instrumental.\nAfter a while, it seemed as though I should be in a dark smoke-filled jazz club listening to this. Images from a black and white movie, with a man in a long trench coat pulling up his collar as he walked through the rain played in my head, as I sauntered off into dream world. \nBen Himpel Trio would be great music for homework, or sleeping, or conversation depending on what kind of person you are. All of their songs followed a melody written by another jazz musician. They then improvised the other dynamics of the song.\nBottom line? I wouldn't pay money to see them in concert unless you're a seasoned jazz connoisseur. But I would spend money to book them at the next reception hall dinner party I throw.