December 7, 2009
by Tina Armour | Staff Writer
Director Bob Wrenn leads the World Music Ensemble in a 21-song tribute to the music of Django Reinhardt Nov. 23 at the City College auditorium. Randy Briggs
People in attendance jingled their keys and any spare change to accompany a music ensemble as they played “Troubland Bolero;” everyone clapped while they played “HCQ Strut,” and they sat in awe as they played “Anouman” and the auditorium was engulfed in soft melodies as music professor Bob Wrenn wandered through the aisles with his violin.
The sounds of guitars, violins and saxophones filled the City College auditorium Nov. 23 while students and spectators young and old bobbed and clapped along to the upbeat jazz music.
Wrenn directed the performance titled, “An Evening of Django Reinhardt”.
“All of the songs are written by famous jazz artist Django Reinhardt,” Wrenn says. “There are not many famous jazz artists but there is a handful, and he is one of them.”
Reinhardt and his music have been portrayed in several films including The Matrix, Kate and Leopold and The Aviator. Many music legends including B.B. King, Chet Atkins and Jimi Hendrix have been influence by Reinhardt and his music.
A Music for Children class taught by Michelle Schultz made up a majority of the audience, which was approximately 50 people.
“I’m here to see different kinds of music actually being played,” City College student Andrea Griffey says. “It’s good examples of what we can do with the children.”
Audience participation was not hard to get as the World Music Ensemble of 14 strummed away and constantly rotated positions to change the sounds of the songs.
“It’s fun because it doesn’t have to stay in the standard jazz form of AABA that gets kind of formulated,” Wrenn says.
“I liked the harmonies and the background music,” says student Adrienne Hatchett.
The artists received a standing ovation at the end of their performance.
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