On Friday, July 10th, the local instrumental jazz group Yuma Jazz Company played at Lutes Casino for a couple of hours. The instrumentation was fairly standard for a jazz group, with trumpet, saxophone, guitar, double bass, and drums (I believe those were electric). The guitar and bass, along with the drums, served as a sort of basso continuo, generally backing the horns, but occasionally taking up the melody for themselves, resulting in a texture that was thinly polyphonic. Also noticeable was the “fabulous light up tip jar,” a colorful accompaniment to their music. The concert ran from 7 to 9 PM, so I went in not only with the intention of listening to the group but also with a good meal in mind. I left the building with filled notebook pages
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Second was Lucky Southern on trumpet, a surprisingly uninteresting piece, even while it was being played. Next was Here’s that Rainy Day, the first trombone piece, which had a slight tropical feel to it, a rhythm & melody that commanded attention, and was apparently the theme for an old TV show as well. Milestones featured the trumpet and trombone, the two taking turns playing an ostinato melody before getting a little more competitive and playing together. Satin Doll was fifth, featuring both instruments, although the focus was on the trombone. When Sunny Gets Blue was next, a piece that featured the guitar playing a slow and sad melody, with a laid back rhythm. The melody brightened over time, and eventually the trumpet dropped in to play counterpoint against the guitar. Work Song, featuring the trombone, with the trumpet backing, was a medley of jazz and funk that the group referred to as “junk”. After a while, the melody transitioned over to the guitar and bass, and the piece even ended on a somewhat elongated drum solo. After this, the group took a short break of about twenty minutes, and then continued on to the next set. They
Second was Lucky Southern on trumpet, a surprisingly uninteresting piece, even while it was being played. Next was Here’s that Rainy Day, the first trombone piece, which had a slight tropical feel to it, a rhythm & melody that commanded attention, and was apparently the theme for an old TV show as well. Milestones featured the trumpet and trombone, the two taking turns playing an ostinato melody before getting a little more competitive and playing together. Satin Doll was fifth, featuring both instruments, although the focus was on the trombone. When Sunny Gets Blue was next, a piece that featured the guitar playing a slow and sad melody, with a laid back rhythm. The melody brightened over time, and eventually the trumpet dropped in to play counterpoint against the guitar. Work Song, featuring the trombone, with the trumpet backing, was a medley of jazz and funk that the group referred to as “junk”. After a while, the melody transitioned over to the guitar and bass, and the piece even ended on a somewhat elongated drum solo. After this, the group took a short break of about twenty minutes, and then continued on to the next set. They