By Ethan Broschart
The University of Maryland School of Music presented their Big Band Concert at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center on Monday night, which featured renowned jazz musician Keyon Harrold performing alongside three jazz ensembles.
Harrold is currently signed with record label Concord Jazz. He has recorded and toured with artists like Jay-Z and Cirque Du Soleil and has feature credits with Mac Miller, Keith Richards and Nas, according to his website. He’s been described as “the future of the trumpet” by Downbeat Magazine.
The University Jazz Band and Jazz Lab Band performed five pieces each before the UMD Jazz Ensemble began performing. Mark Williams, director of jazz studies at UMD, conducted the final ensemble, leading them in two pieces before inviting Harrold to the stage.
Harrold sauntered onto stage in a tan and gold striped vest, wearing sunglasses as the audience applauded.
The next piece, titled “MB Lament,” was written by Harrold in honor of Michael Brown, an 18-year-old who was killed by police on Aug. 9, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri.
“I wanted to write something for the mother and father of Mike Brown,” Harrold said. “I needed to write something…to continue the awareness [of police brutality].”
Williams, who danced and moved around the stage while conducting the previous two songs, stayed still as he somberly led the ensemble through Harrold’s song.
Harrold listened to his piece being performed before joining in on his trumpet about 40 seconds in. The ensemble crescendoed as the powerful melody echoing out of Harrold’s trumpet rang loud throughout the concert hall.
For the ensemble, getting the chance to perform alongside a jazz legend made for a highlight performance.
Jeremiah Awoseye, a senior architecture and piano double major, knows this experience is a learning opportunity.
“When he comes, he introduces new techniques and melodies I can learn from … I’ve recorded [Harrold] so I can go back and try to see what he played,” Awoseye said.
Awoseye said he started playing with the UMD jazz ensemble in his freshman year. Listening to Harrold play still gives him chances to practice and hone his piano skills, an instrument he’s played for 13 years.
“I’m definitely gonna listen back to all his solos and try to, what do they call it? ‘Transpose,’” Awoseye said with a laugh.
Harrold wasn’t the only guest at the concert. Before the final two songs, Harrold brought out Priest Da Nomad, a D.C. music and jazz “legend,” as Harrold introduced him, to perform with the ensemble’s rendition of “How Much A Dollar Cost” by Kendrick Lamar.
Their performance was a celebration of jazz music and the identity of their artists, Da Nomad said, as he freestyled over Harrold’s trumpet and the ensemble’s sound.
“It doesn’t matter what the horn blows. It matters what your spirit feels,” Da Nomad rapped while pacing the stage. He led the audience to clap along to the beat before concluding their second to last song.
The love Da Nomad and Harrold have for jazz isn’t unique to them. The two-hour-long jazz concert drew many audience members who share a love for jazz.
Alanah Filion, a master’s student in the University of Maryland System’s integrative health acupuncture program, raved about the performances.
“I’m a big fan of jazz, so it was really phenomenal to see everyone perform … I love hearing jazz music and it’s always cool to see the guest artists,” Filion said.
Filion gave additional praise to Williams, who was appointed to director of jazz studies in 2023, according to the UMD School of Music website.
“[Williams] does so much for the program and brings so many guest artists. I think it’s wonderful for not only the audience but for the band to be able to play together as well.”
As the ensemble landed on their final chord of “Terrapin Blues (Theme Song),” they were greeted with a standing ovation from the audience. The next Big Band performance will be their holiday concert in December.
The ensemble members and guest performers slowly exited Dekelboum Concert Hall, greeting friends and family after the concert. But the heart of the performance, in Da Nomad’s words, carried on.
“The beautiful thing about music is it brings us all together,” Da Nomad said.
Featured Image: The University Jazz Band concentrates on a song. Photo by Taneen Momeni.