New Mexico State University’s Jazz Ensembles performed for students, families, and other members of the community at the Atkinson Recital Hall on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. Their concert, “A Tribute to Quincy Jones,” directed by Steven Smyth and Jacob Dalager, consisted of eleven songs in honor of the artist.
Originating from Chicago’s South Side, Quincy Delight Jones Jr was an American composer, trumpeter, and producer. Over his 70-year-long career, he won 28 Grammys, a Primetime Emmy, a Tony Award, and nominations for seven Oscars and four Golden globes. Some of Jones’ notable music includes the arrangements for the albums Sinatra at the Sands (1966) and Thriller (1982). He was also the film producer behind The Color Purple (1985) and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-96). Jones passed away on Nov. 3, 2024, just three months before Jazz Ensembles’ event.
Jazz Ensemble II first performed Count Me In (1964), Lush Life (1934), Brother Mister (2009), and Count Bubba (1999). After a 10-minute intermission, Jazz Ensemble I performed the second part, which included Moanin’ (1958), The Quintessence (1962), Fly Me to the Moon (1954), Vortex (2015), For Lena and Lenny (1959), Jessica’s Day (1957), and Billie Jean (1983). The Fly Me to the Moon performance featured voice instructor Sarah Neely as its singer.
Estevan Otero, the fourth trumpet of Jazz Ensemble I, said his lifelong passion for music led up to his involvement in NMSU Jazz Ensembles.
“I have been listening to music since I was really little. And, around my time in middle school, I started playing instruments, and then I got really into jazz. Then I just kept going and eventually I got here, and it has been a lot of fun. It is pretty neat to be a part of these concerts,” Otero said.
Adriana Mulgado, the first tenor saxophone of Jazz Ensemble II, mentioned how joining the ensembles this semester familiarized her to Jones’ work.
“It was really nice to be in this concert. When you are a part of something that commemorates an artist, you get to learn a lot about them. You play more of their music and get a feel for how they composed their work. Even for someone like Quincy Jones, who is already known everywhere,” Mulgado said.
One attendee, freshman Fernanda Gomez, said she went to the concert to see one of her friends perform and because she used to play jazz.
“I really liked the concert. I played jazz for a long time, throughout my high school years, and I just like coming here even though I do not play instruments or jazz anymore,” Gomez said.
Gomez reflected on the importance of celebrating Jones’ impact on American culture and music, which she said was especially fitting during Black History Month.
“First of all, he was a man of color, and his life therefore overlapped with the racism and segregation of back in the day,” Gomez said. “So, Jones’ work growing as big as it did? during that era left a substantial impact on the Black community, and on the jazz community in general. That is why I think it is important to know about him, to know about all the other artists he helped out, and the favors he made to make names like Frank Sinatra as big as they ended up becoming.”
