 "Photo: Trent Barnes")
 "Photo: Trent Barnes")
 "Photo: Trent Barnes")
 "Photo: Trent Barnes")
Allen Theatre was the place to be Friday night as two types of music that rarely are heard together - jazz and gospel - were paired.
Texas Tech's Jazz Ensemble I came together with The United Voice of Love Gospel Choir for the "Jazz and Gospel Black History Spectacle."
Bright lights illuminated the stage of the newly remodeled Allen Theatre, which was almost full for the performance. Two large screens projecting pictures of influential African Americans, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks were set up on stage.
While audience members came seeking a fun night of jazz, many did not expect the performance they witnessed.
Rebekah Stool, a junior business major from San Antonio, said she attended the production because she is enrolled in a history of jazz class. She said she did not know much about jazz, but the event offered her something different to do in Lubbock. She said it was a cultural experience.
"I was very impressed with the size of the production," Stool said. "That was pretty big for being on campus."
Special guests, including Arlington Jones, Quamon Fowler and The United Voices of Love Gospel Choir added to the performance of the already talented Jazz Ensemble I.
The first hour of the performance featured Jazz Ensemble I, which received instant applause from the audience as the musicians entered the stage and began tuning their instruments.
The evening began with the song "Special K," written by director of the jazz band, Brad Leali. The song began with a single piano, followed by entrances from all the instruments in the band. Cheers, whistles and applause came from the audience at the song's conclusion.
Light reflected off the drum set as the second song began. Leali, the conductor, began to move freely on the stage as the band started to chant "Maria," the name of the song. Audience members was offered the chance to participate in the song as Leali signaled to them to chant the word "Maria" in unison over and over.
"The band on vocals, the audience on vocals," Leali said at the end of the piece, the time when the conductor recognized the soloists in each of the night's songs.
Excessive applause from the audience again followed the end of the performance.
The gospel choir entered for the second hour of the show, and its first song, "The Blessing of Abraham," received another great response from the audience.
It was at this point during the concert when the new combination of jazz and gospel music was heard.
Whitney Cross, a sophomore music education major from Plainview, said it was the first time she had ever seen jazz and gospel music performed together.
"It adds to the caliber that both already had to begin with," Cross said of combining the two genres.
Andy Hall, a restaurant, hotel and institutional management major from Arlington, said he enjoyed seeing Arlington Jones, a guest performer who wrote some of the music performed.
Marcus Lang, a trumpet player in Jazz Ensemble I, said it was the first time he has never been nervous at a performance.
"Once you get excited, you just loosen up," said Lang, a sophomore music performance major from Lubbock.
He said performing with musicians such as Jones presented a different experience.
"It was amazing, Lang said of the performance. "I can't really compare it to anything because it is new to me."
Tech students who want to attend upcoming jazz events should mark March 22, March 30 and March 31 on their calendars and watch TechAnnounce for more details.
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