Concert Series comes out swinging

Valley College hosts live concert series every Wednesday that has been on beat for over 20 years.

By Jabes Pascual and Maïa Richaud

Dr. Frank Garvey, music professor, leads Valley's choir during the April 17 free music concert. Samantha Salazar for the Valley Star

Groove, chops, and swing captivated the audience when jazz band ‘L.A. 6’ took center stage at Valley’s Music Recital Hall for this semester's third edition of the Spring Concert Series. 

These concerts, happening almost every Wednesday, have been organized every semester at Valley for more than 40 years. Music Professor Christian Nova uses his network as a professional singer to find professional artists, student organizations or faculty members to perform for the concert series. 

“[The Concert Series] had taken place before I even got here, and so I took it over in 2005,” said Professor Christian Nova. “So ever since then, every semester, every Wednesday, we try to do a live concert, and I bring in a whole variety of different styles.”

On April 12, they hosted a versatile sextet mainly influenced by the soothing West Cool Jazz scene of the 50’s, fused with hard-bop jazz. L.A. 6 displays improvisation and intricate arrangements in their performances and introduces the listener to the essences of jazz. 

The band, made up of Rich Eames, piano; Peter Gemus, bass; Kye Palmer, trumpet; Joe La Berbera, drums; Ira Nepus, trombone; and Tom Peterson, tenor sax; performed five pieces including an original composition by Tom Peterson called “Shuffle City.”

“We didn't rehearse at all for this [performance],” said Trombone Player Ira Nepus. “But that's because we've played together for so many years that we already kind of got to the end and we have the arrangements.”

The performance carried on for half an hour, as L.A. 6 performed five tunes which was followed by a Q&A. The topics in question regarded the musicians solos, and how synchronized the band performed with no monitor speakers. 

“It’s how well you can control your instrument and project the best sound regardless of the acoustics of the stage, and simply accommodate the rest of the band,” said La Berbera.

Valley’s Spring Wednesday Concert Series will host three more shows on May 1st, May 8th, and May 15th at Valley College’s Music Recital Hall at 1:30 p.m.

“I enjoyed myself so much, I think that’s a wonderful idea,” said audience member Táta Vega at the April 17th show, about the music series. “I'm so grateful that I got to come here. What a nice break to sit and enjoy beautiful music.”