Photo credit: Aldernico Brioche
To pay homage to Grammy award-winning musician Miles Davis, Florida A&M University's (FAMU) College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities Department of Music presented "Decades of Miles," at 7:30 p.m. on March 29 in Lee Hall Auditorium.
"Decades of Miles," a jazz concert featured the Jazz Faculty and FAMU Jazz Ensemble I. The FAMU Jazz Ensemble I is one of three jazz ensembles in the Music Department. It is composed of eighteen musicians selected from approximately four hundred musicians in the university band program.
Chairman of the Music Department, Lindsey B. Sarjeant gave the welcome for the concert.
“We welcome you all here tonight on this very special night,” Sarjeant said. “What we try to do is educate and keep the spirit of jazz alive. Tonight we’re going to do a tribute to one of the most legendary, one of the world’s greatest musicians Mr. Miles Davis.”
Sarjeant explained the schedule of the performances how they would showcase Davis’ musical career over the time span of five decades. The first sectioned was “Birth of the Cool” followed by “Modal Jazz” and “Jazz-Rock Fusion.”
The first two segments of the show were performed by the Jazz Faculty, accompanied by two student musicians, Avion Wright on the drums and Michenell Louis-Charles playing the baritone saxophone.
During a brief intermission, a documentary of the life and legacy of Miles Davis was played giving the audience a glance into Davis’ life, as well as how others perceived him and his craft.
The last section of the night was presented by the Jazz Ensemble, directed by Robert Griffin.
Once the concert came to a close the musicians received a standing ovation from the audience.
Griffin thanked the audience on behalf of both bands and informed the audience that there will be another jazz concert held April 12 in Lee Hall Auditorium. He also stated that they are accepting contributions for a trip to New Orleans.
Freshman psychology student, Lucero Saldiera, expressed her experience from attending the concert.
“Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the show, I’m actually a big fan of jazz so being able to come to this concert was a great experience for me,” Saldiera said.
Salidera added that her favorite section of the show was the “Jazz-Rock Fusion.”
FAMU alumna Madelyn Towns also reflected on the show the Jazz Faculty and FAMU Jazz Ensemble I put together.
“I would not have missed this for anything. The show was wonderful, quite an honor for Miles Davis,” Towns expressed.