Luther College Jazz Orchestra experiences trip of a lifetime

Student musicians of the Luther College Jazz Orchestra experienced the trip of a lifetime as they performed concerts in seven Brazilian cities during a 13 day tour in May 2008.
   
During the study-abroad trip, the Jazz Orchestra appeared in many of Brazil’s most famous venues, including the Teatro de São Caetano do Sul, the Teatro do Ses-Consolacão, Sala GuiomarNovaes Concert Hall, Teatro Municipal de Cabo Frio and Sala Villa-Lobos-Uni Rio.  The Luther musicians also performed live during the jazz program on MEC Radio, a national radio station of Brazil.
   
The Luther Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of Juan Tony Guzmán, presented the full scope of their repertoire ranging from Duke Ellington songs, such as “It Don’t Mean A Thing” and “Crescendo and Diminuendo in Blue” to hard bob and Brazilian songs such as “Better Get Hit in Your Soul” and “Samba De Uma Nota Só.”

Guzmán said the orchestra, while working with the best sound engineers in the country, received standing ovations from full houses every time they took the stage, and audiences demanded encores after every performance.    

The group also participated in workshops with renowned Brazilian bands at Sesc Consolacáo, Funarte in São Caetano, Banda Canela de São Paulo, and the Universidad Federal de Rio de Janeiro.

Along with the performances, the orchestra members had free time to do some sightseeing in Corcovado and picturesque Rio de Janeiro, and they enjoyed an afternoon on the beautiful beaches of Cabo Frio.

Guzmán said he chose Brazil as the destination because of the tremendous impact that country’s diverse music and culture has had in American music.  Brazil introduced the bossa nova and samba, musical styles that famous American artists such as Ella Fitzgerald and Tony Bennett have incorporated into their music.

Benjamin Yates and Ted Schacherer, both instrumentalists in the Jazz Orchestra, stated how the informal and relaxed atmosphere of the country allowed the band to interact with the Brazilian performers and learn their techniques, as well as share their own performance and style techniques.

This tour was the first ever Luther College trip to South America, and Guzmán stated that due to the hard work of Mariah Smith, former director of music marketing and tours and current director of annual giving, and the Oficina Coral de Rio de Janerio, the trip was a complete success for the jazz orchestra and Luther College.