Jazz trio teaches, performs for students
Kim Pavlicek
Issue date: 4/1/09 Section: The Edge
The Michael Kocour Trio gave a performance at the College of Fine Arts and Communication Recital Hall after a day of giving master classes to students of the school of music jazz studies at Western Illinois University on Saturday, March 28.
Michael Kocour is a well-known jazz pianist and currently an associate professor and director of jazz studies in the school of music at Arizona State University's Herberger College of Fine Arts.
The Chicago Tribune called Kocour "one of the most sophisticated pianists in jazz." Known as a "musician's musician" in the jazz world, he has played with such greats as Dizzy Gillespie, Eddie Harris and the Chicago Symphony. He has performed music for a number of TV commercials and played on the soundtracks of two major motion pictures.
What made the performance especially great was the choice of seating. Since a small group was expected due to inclement weather, the trio placed chairs on stage for the audience. The group of almost 40 people surrounded the piano, bass and drums, only inches away from the musicians and instruments. The only way to be closer would have been to be sharing the piano bench with Kocour.
Because of the unique seating arrangement, the audience got to feel like they were members of the group. While the band played tunes such as arrangements of "South Pacific" and songs from Leonard Bernstein's "West Side Story," the audience of mostly music students watched the fingers and hands of the three music legends intensely.
As the group played Bernstein's "Jet Song," a vivacious energy was felt on the stage as performers got excited and made faces like little kids back and forth, the audience watching in awe. A short, one-hour performance proved to be a great time by those able to attend, and a night they will never forget.
Michael Kocour is a well-known jazz pianist and currently an associate professor and director of jazz studies in the school of music at Arizona State University's Herberger College of Fine Arts.
The Chicago Tribune called Kocour "one of the most sophisticated pianists in jazz." Known as a "musician's musician" in the jazz world, he has played with such greats as Dizzy Gillespie, Eddie Harris and the Chicago Symphony. He has performed music for a number of TV commercials and played on the soundtracks of two major motion pictures.
What made the performance especially great was the choice of seating. Since a small group was expected due to inclement weather, the trio placed chairs on stage for the audience. The group of almost 40 people surrounded the piano, bass and drums, only inches away from the musicians and instruments. The only way to be closer would have been to be sharing the piano bench with Kocour.
Because of the unique seating arrangement, the audience got to feel like they were members of the group. While the band played tunes such as arrangements of "South Pacific" and songs from Leonard Bernstein's "West Side Story," the audience of mostly music students watched the fingers and hands of the three music legends intensely.
As the group played Bernstein's "Jet Song," a vivacious energy was felt on the stage as performers got excited and made faces like little kids back and forth, the audience watching in awe. A short, one-hour performance proved to be a great time by those able to attend, and a night they will never forget.
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