Bloomington residents rolled out their blankets and set up chairs Sunday evening at the Switchyard Park amphitheater for a night with the Bloomington Jazz Orchestra. Spanning around two hours, the event included performances of an array of pieces, even featuring some songs by Indiana composers.
“We have spent time this summer playing music of Indiana composers and arrangers including David Baker, Hoagy Carmichael, Al Cobine, Freddie Hubbard, Wes Montgomery and Brent Wallarab,” Lissa May, director of the Bloomington Jazz Orchestra, said in an email. “We will also perform an arrangement of ‘It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing’, by our very own lead trombonist and Bloomington resident, Sam Swyers.”
During the concert, the musicians played two of Carmichaels' most popular songs, “Heart and Soul” and “Stardust.” They also played “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” originally written by Don Gibson in honor of Janis Stockhouse, the previous director of the Bloomington Jazz Orchestra. Stockhouse passed away last December.
The orchestra plays at a variety of community events and had multiple “firsts” this summer, including playing at the Jazz Kitchen in Indianapolis. The group also collaborated with the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra, performing a concert together in August.
“This concert at Switchyard Park is an opportunity for us to perform for an audience from the community that may not otherwise have an opportunity to hear us,” May said. “The Bloomington Jazz Orchestra musicians really love to play and bring jazz to the community.”
The orchestra plays a variety of jazz music, including 1940s swing tunes and contemporary jazz. It is comprised of musicians with varied experiences, some being professional musicians and others music educators or current IU music students.
During the concert, a few people slowly made their way to the paved area in front of the stage and began dancing, most of whom were part of the Swing Dance Club at IU.
“We just love showing up to dance to live music,” Zoe Willingham, president of the Swing Dance Club and a music student in the final year of her IU master's degree, said. “We don’t really get an opportunity to a lot of the time, so for the past couple of weeks when there’s been live music, we just like to go.”
As a music student studying jazz violin, Willingham likes listening to live music often, and this show offered some new arrangements she hadn’t heard before. Because of how frequently she listens to the band, she said it is nice to hear the orchestra play new pieces.
“I can tell that they’re trying to get out of their comfort zone and, you know, just try new things, which is what performing is for,” Willingham said. “You want to expand yourself and not just stay in the same box.”
Some audience members enjoyed both the music and watching the dancers. Kirsten Tucker, an IU alumna, said it was fun to see the dancers and musicians collaborate. Tucker loved watching the swing dancers because it often inspires kids to go up and dance too.
Tucker attended the concert to support her partner, who is a saxophone player in the orchestra and had multiple solos during the concert.
“I love listening to all the solos,” Tucker said. “I think it’s incredible what jazz musicians can come up with just on the spot, just the improv skills that they have are incredible, and I love being able to hear the art that they create.”
Bloomington and Switchyard Park offer many opportunities to listen to live music, including upcoming events like the Splattertones on Sept. 12 and Evening with the Bloomington Community Band on Sept. 21. Many of these options are free and help support community groups.
“I’ve been to the Switchyard venue quite a few times, I love it,” Lexie Prat, member of the Bloomington Chamber Singers, said. “It’s such a beautifully manufactured space as a casual concert venue to show up and come and go from.”
The Bloomington Jazz Orchestra has several upcoming events in September, including playing from 6:30-8 p.m. Sept. 17 at Meadowood and from 4:30-6 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Persimmon Festival. The orchestra is also playing at the Bloom Magazine Gala on Sept 19.
