Jazz trio plays fiery and sultry selections.
The Rogosin Jazz Trio teamed up with local musicians to perform in Brunton Auditorium on Saturday night, providing an evening of diverse musical entertainment.
The trio – David Rogosin on piano, Jeff Richard on bass, and Scott Cuzner on drums – was the main attraction of the evening. They were accompanied by guests James Kalyn (soprano and tenor saxophones), Jamie Mark (tenor saxophone), Aryelle Morrison (voice), and Mitchell Davey (guitar). Together, they played songs that covered a wide range of emotions and styles.
The trio opened the second half of the concert with Monty Alexander’s “Pointe-À-Pitre,” a piece which is heavily influenced by Caribbean folk music. This performance highlighted the light, fun side of the performers; with a fairly fast tempo and a tropical, summery feel, the group delivered a performance which momentarily distracted the audience from the cold weather outside.
In contrast, a performance of Armando Manzanero’s “El Ciego” resonated with feelings of loneliness and sorrow. Accompanied by Jamie Mark, the performance was slow, soulful, and left the audience listening intently. Eyes and ears were focused on Mark’s solo moments on tenor saxophone, all of which clearly showed his dedication and passion as a performer.
Even with the heavier and more emotional songs, the trio made it a point to keep the general mood of the show light and happy. Rogosin took a moment to talk to the audience in between songs, sometimes offering context for the song that they were about to play, but more often cracking jokes and giving the audience a bit of a laugh.
The group maintained this light feel during their performance. Accompanied by Davey, they played Prince’s “Thieves in the Temple,” which combined jazz with a light rock sound. The performance was upbeat and fun, with many of the audience members tapping their feet or nodding their heads along in response.
With his guitar solo and occasional goofy face, Davey dominated the song and made the crowd go wild. The applause for Davey was outstanding and showed just how engaged with the performance the audience really was.
The final performance of the night created a similar reaction from the audience. “Fulford Street Romp,” written by Oliver Jones, was fast, fun, and catchy. The trio invited Mark back on stage, who showed his love of performance in an entirely different emotional context compared to “El Ciego”: he tapped his feet and bounced along to the music throughout the performance, and his saxophone solos elicited an eruption of applause.
Each performer had a wonderful stage presence, even during the slower, more melancholy songs. This joyful energy was contagious, leaving the audience in a great mood and begging for more.
