N.C. jazz orchestra plays with numbers

Music and math met Tuesday night for “Jazz by the Numbers,” a performance by the North Carolina Jazz Repertory Orchestra.

“Music is arithmetic for the soul,” said David Hartman, narrator of the show and previous host of “Good Morning America.”

Every song in the show featured a number either in the title or the theme of the song.

The concert was strong overall, although some performances did not convey the music’s underlying emotion.

The greatest strength of the repertory orchestra was the abundance of accomplished musicians who play within the orchestra.

The wind section, which had a perfect balance between the trumpets and saxophones, was the standout of the performance.

The rhythm section played well but did not compare.

The energy of the concert picked up with tenor saxophonists Gregg Gelb and Chad Eby. The duo made the audience want to get up and dance with “Jumpin’ at the Woodside.”

The two saxophonists burst forth with an incredible blast of sound as they performed this 1930s big band piece.

Vocalist Kathy Gelb lit up the stage with her beautiful voice and engaging facial expressions.

From an energized improvisation in “One Note Samba” to a slow and seductive croon in “Round Midnight,” she showed a large range of talent in the concert.

James Ketch, director of the orchestra and jazz studies at UNC, beautifully accompanied Gelb’s slow vocals in “Round Midnight” with his trumpet. He also moved the audience with a solo in “The Jitterbug Waltz.”

Trombonist Ryan Robinson also stole the show with his solo during the Cuban-styled “23°N/82°W.”

After intermission, the song “Four Brothers” beautifully showcased the talent in the jazz section. All of the saxophonists turned red in the face as they played their hearts out.

Not every piece was such a rousing success. “88 Basie Street” fell flat, with the stoic pianist Ed Paolantonio leading the piece.

The concert ended with strong applause following a marathon jazz solo by Chad Eby in “Diminuendo an Crescendo in Blue.”



Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.