Fun, toe-tapping jazz music was played Thursday by Eastern’s Jazz Lab Band.

Paul Johnston, the director of the Jazz Lab Band and an associate professor of jazz studies, described the different compositions to the audience as “toe-taping, some beautiful and some that are just plan fun.”

Audience members were treated to 13 jazz compositions, such as; “Blue Skies” arranged by Paul Jennings; “Witchcraft” and “The Way You Look Tonight” arranged by Sammy Nestico; “The Maids of Cadiz” arranged by Gil Evans; “Portrait of Louis Armstrong” by Duke Ellington; “Topsy” arranged by Dave Wolpe; and ending with “When the Saints Go Marching In” arranged by Dean Sorenson, among others.

Some of the compositions included solo performances by members of the lab band. Allison Buettner, a trumpet player in the Jazz Lab Band and a soloist in “Portrait of Louis Armstrong” and “The Maids of Cadiz,” said she liked performing her solos, but enjoyed playing with the band more.

“It doesn’t mean much to have a solo unless you have a good ensemble to back you up,” Buettner said.

“Maid of Cadiz” was first a collaboration with Miles Davis and featured on the album Miles Ahead.

“I really like the Gil Evans piece “The Maids of Cadiz,” Johnston said. “It was so different from anything else we did, which makes the piece interesting.”

The band also performed a new twist on “When the Saints Go Marching In.”

This twist gave the compositions a New Orleans jazz feel, he said.

Anna Cox, a sophomore psychology major at Lake Land College, said this composition was her favorite.

“It was on of my favorite songs while growing up with it as a kid and they had a great twist to it,” Cox said.

Buettner said she liked the tune.

“It’s a familiar tune and the audience was more engaged during it,” Buettner said. “The concert is a heck of a lot better if the audience is enjoying the music.”

Johnston said the compositions ranged in style, theme, composer and era that helps to teach the members of the band different elements of jazz

music.

“We tried to do some things that were beautiful and some things that were just fun,” Johnston said.

Johnston said he thought the concert went well.

“It was a lot of fun,” Johnston said. “It was great to play for such a

great audience.”

Johnston said this concert was the last concert that would include Michael Berry, guitar, who is graduating, and Danny Kent, saxophones, who will be student teaching.

“I feel fortunate to work with this great bunch of students and we will really miss the two folks that are leaving us this semester,” Johnston said.

Cox said she just enjoyed the music.

“I’m a big fan of jazz music and big band music and anything in your face, and this band did great,” Cox said.

Samantha McDaniel can be reached at 581-2812 or slmcdaniel@eiu.edu.