Jazz is one of those genres of music that is capable of getting into your blood and consuming your whole being.
Music dorks like myself will bounce around from genre to genre. I have my favorites; I can’t live without my beloved punk rock made in the early 1980s and a handful of Frank Zappa (he wrote some jazz) records. I continue to consume that stuff while I dig into whatever new, independent music I can get my paws on and immediately push into my ears.
While I may scatter myself through phases and genres often ingesting flavors of the week, I’ve got predictable friends who stick to one genre. I’m thankful for that, because I know when I go to them for musical knowledge I will get more information than I wanted. It’s that passion from friends and acquaintances that helps music lovers like me expand an already too-big record collection.
It’s also that passion that helps venues continue to bring class acts to their own communities. The late Russ Serzen, a local jazz-lover and supporter of the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College, epitomized that passion, and his name still rings synonymous with jazz coming through town.
It was Serzen who worked with former Concert Hall director Gary Penington, tutoring Penington on jazz greats while influencing him on booking more jazz acts in the yearly schedule. Great musicians and bands like Spyro Gyra, Pat Metheny and Al Di Meola, along with the orchestras that still tour under the name of their late leaders, like Count Basie, Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey, all have graced the Concert Hall stage because of Serzen’s influence.
His influence continues to bring great acts to the venue at Fort Lewis College, all while contributing funds to Concert Hall operations through the Russ and Bette Serzen Endowment Fund.
The “Jazz on the Hill” series returns tomorrow, with vocalist Joyce Lyons performing with the Jeff Solon Jazz Trio. Solon and his bands have played with Lyons but have never played Jazz on the Hill. The event benefits the Serzen Endowment Fund.
Solon will play sax, joined by Jack Maynes on piano, Ely Rio on bass and John O’Neal on percussion. O’Neal is the new percussion instructor at Fort Lewis College.
Lyons has been busy. She recently co-wrote a song that will be featured in an upcoming film, in addition to working on a project exploring the music and career of Carmen McRae. However, her priorities – at least for this weekend – lie in performing with a new set of local musicians and bringing jazz to Southwest music lovers.
“Since the grouping is new, I thought we would tackle this with a more intimate approach, and I have chosen some classic jazz tunes that everyone will know and as usual have some fun while we’re at it,” Lyons wrote in an email interview. “I am honored and privileged to be invited once again to perform for those lovers of jazz in Durango and Durango always feels like coming home.”
Liggett_b@fortlewis.edu. Bryant Liggett is a freelance writer and KDUR station manager.
Bryant’s best
Today: Ralph Dinosaur and the Fabulous Volcanoes play rock music, 9 p.m., no cover, Irish Embassy Pub, 900 Main Ave., 403-1200.
Saturday: Jazz on the Hill Endowment Fundraiser with Joyce Lyons, 6 p.m., $100 includes appetizers/dinner, Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College, 247-7657.
