Frostburg State University’s Department of Music, Theatre and Dance Presents An Evening of Jazz! April 28
Apr 7, 2026 8:00 AM
Frostburg State University’s Department of Music, Theatre and Dance presents An Evening of Jazz! Tuesday, April 28, at 7:30 p.m. in the F. Perry Smith Studio Theatre located in the Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center. The concert will feature the FSU Jazz Orchestra, directed by Dr. Brent Weber, and the FSU Jazz Combo, directed by Tom Harrison.
The FSU Jazz Orchestra is exploring something new this semester with the introduction of a Commercial Band. This ensemble features instrumentation typical of funk and fusion groups, consisting of a rhythm section alongside five to six wind players. Much of the music was learned by ear and later transcribed into sheet music by the students themselves, mirroring the process used by many professional musicians. Rehearsals were also held in a studio setting, giving students valuable insight into the music industry. Through this experience, they worked with microphones, monitored their sound through a digital audio workstation and listened back to recordings of their performances.
The music presented was chosen by members of the FSU Jazz Orchestra and will include a wide selection from soul to Anime to video game music and beyond. Each tune represents an individual student's transcription. You will hear “Rush” from the Cowboy Bebop soundtrack; A Soul Medley of Sam & Dave's “Hold On I'm Comin'” and Junior Walker's “Shotgun”; “Pick Up the Pieces” by Average White Band; “Papa's Got a Brand New Bag” and “The Boss” by James Brown; “Sand Ocean” from the F Zero soundtrack; “Mr. Eclectic” made famous by Laufey; “Senor Blues” by Horace Silver; “In All My Wildest Dreams” by Joe Sample; and Snarky Puppy's landmark hit “Shofukan”.
The Jazz Combo, under the direction of Tom Harrison, will explore the sounds of Brazilian Bossa Nova on selections composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim, Marcos Valle and Norman Gimbel. These include “The Girl from Ipanema”, “Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars”, and “Summer Samba”. Leon Russell’s “This Masquerade”, made popular by guitarist/vocalist George Benson is played in a Bossa style as well with a touch of funk.
Vocalist Mack Taylor is featured on the Bossa tunes as well as Stevie Wonder’s “Golden Lady”, and the standard “Everything Happens to Me”. Guitarist Garrett Yoder brings the authentic Brazilian sound to the combo with the nylon string guitar.
With Max Partlow on tenor sax, Sam White on trumpet, Joe Rubens III on drums and Harrison on bass, jazz standards also included are Kern and Hammerstein’s “All the Things you Are”, Wes Montgomery’s “Four on Six”, and the beautiful ballad “I Fall in Love Too Easily” by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn.
Ticket prices are adults $20 cash/$21.09 credit/debit card; seniors, military, youth (13-18), and FSU ID $10 cash/$10.69 credit/debit card; and free for children 12 and under. Purchase tickets online at tickets.frostburg.edu; or at the University Box Office, Lane University Center 203 (Mon. - Fri. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.), 301-687-3137; or at the door the evening of the performance. Seating is limited, so get your tickets today.