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Musicians showcase talent and creativity

One of the greatest neglected resources at the University are its own students. The vaunted "Fiske" college guide says, "If a meteor landed in the middle of the campus, the University of Michigan could not radiate more power." Nowhere is this more true than in the School of Music.

Every Thursday, Leonardo's in the North Campus Commons features players from the University's Jazz Studies program. In an ongoing engagement last Monday, a group of music students led by guitarist Randy Napoleon stretched their developing muscles in the commons. Far from being a laborious student concert, the show possessed style and taste that far exceeded the age of the players.

Establishing their maturity early on, the first set consisted of such diverse elements as two Ornette Coleman tunes and the old war horse "There Will Never Be Another You." Immediately noticeable was Andrew Bishop on tenor and soprano sax. Listing such people as Ray Charles and The Temptations on his resume, his approach was full and vigorous without being brash or discordant. Taking an aggressive but measured approach to the Coleman pieces, Bishop's solo drifted between short tortured phrases and long, perambulating free jazz lines. Counterbalancing this was Napoleon, whose furious technique and rounded sound belie a strong Russell Malone influence.

The rest of the rhythm section shone in the second set. Bassist John Ballou intertwined impressively with Napoleon to give the group a looser, breezy sound, sometimes impossible with a piano. The set contained more of the hard-bop rockers that endear a group to the public ear, giving Ballou and drummer Steven Aho a chance to show off their foundation building abilities. Napoleon and Bishop turned in well-crafted solos here too, flirting with both the blues and more abstract approaches.

The Coltrane number "Impressions" and other notables closed the set, highlighting the group's fondness for the more acerbic in the jazz palette. It is rare to find a young group (Bishop, the elder statesman excepted) that can tackle this kind of music with understanding and grace. Musicians of this caliber make the School of Music proud.