On April 5, Swing in Spring, featuring the Bakersfield College Jazz Ensemble with special guest Paul Tynan and the debut performance of the BC Jazz Singers, kicked off at 8 p.m. in the BC Indoor Theater.
Proceeds from the event went to benefit the BC Jazz Program. The BC Jazz Singers performed the opening set of the show and kicked off the night. This was the first performance for the BC Jazz Singers directed by Ron King. They sang four songs including “What A Wonderful World” and “A Day in the Life of A Fool.” Members of the jazz band accompanied the singers for the rhythm section.
Paul Tynan sat in the audience and watched the Jazz Singers, commenting, “It’s not an easy thing to do. It’s hard to get into, but they did it amicably.” There was a small intermission between the singers and the band, which gave the crowd a chance to chat. Kris Tiner introduced the Jazz Ensemble as Tynan said of Tiner, “BC is lucky to have someone like Kris Tiner who cares so much about the art.”
The first song by the band was loosely based on Ray Charles’ composition “Hallelujah, I Love Her So,” which gave Ray Harker from CSUB the chance for a beautiful solo on his tenor sax. They also played an original song composed by Jordan Hurbst called “Jazz with Pan,” featuring Professor Robert Martinez in bright red pants playing the flute. Tynan, who had been sitting in the audience for the first two sets, moved to the stage. The first thing he did was lower the microphone and comment on his height. Tynan is originally from Ontario, Canada.
Tiner gave a roadmap for the set, and the first songs were small band pieces to showcase Tynan’s skill and improv talent. Tiner introduced Tynan as “one of the up-and-coming trumpet players.”
The small band set included piano, two saxophones, tenor, drums, electric guitar, bass, and, of course, Tynan on trumpet. They played “Some Other Blues” by John Coltrane and “Footprints” by Wayne Shorter.
Next, Tynan played two of his big band compositions, “Little Wheels” written three or four years ago and “HG”, which was written around last December. Tynan said, “I can’t tell you what it means, or I’d have to kill you.”
The show ended with Tynan and Tiner doing a trumpet duo titled “Hobo Flats.”
The whole show was received well. Mark Cantrell, who attended the show, said, “The show was really good, especially the last songs.”
The next event with the BC Jazz Ensemble, Band, Orchestra, Drum Line, Choir, and Singers is the Annual Pops Concert Thursday on May 8 in the Bakersfield College Outdoor Theater at 6:30 p.m.