UNLV JAZZ 1

MY FAVORITE THINGS

UNLV Jazz & Commercial Music / Vegas Records

One of the favorite holiday songs of all time opens this album.  It was originally written for the 1959 Broadway stage musical, “The Sound of Music” and later was featured in the wonderful film of the same title. It’s another Rodgers and Hammerstein composition that will live on forever. The UNLV 2025 – 2026 Jazz 1 Ensemble make this tune their own. Their arrangement is awesome, written by co-director Nathan Tanouye, with the vocals of Clint Holmes delivered energetically and with spontaneity.  Drummer Andree Montero opens the production, setting the tempo with Clint’s voice mimicking the drums at the intro of “My Favorite Things;” shades of Al Jarreau. Pianist Tristan Selzler takes a solo, followed by the gifted trombonist, Matt Ellis. The entire band arrangement just knocks me out!  They sound extremely professional and proudly represent the UNLV School of Music, Jazz and Commercial Music.

They follow this with “Angel Eyes” featuring the soprano vocals of Eve Yazdanpanah. Eve also sings on “Softly as in a Morning Sunrise” with stellar solos by Jason Knuckles on alto saxophone, Kyle Mettke on trumpet, and Renzon Maballo playing tenor saxophone. They slow-swing this great arrangement by Javier Nero. Yazdanpanah uses her voice like a horn, joining them in scat-singing along with the brass section.

The UNLV Jazz 1 ensemble slows the pace down on “Just Squeeze Me” but they don’t diminish their energy.  This arrangement adds a little fusion feel to their contemporary jazz arrangement, not in an electronic way, but in a very funk driven arrangement by Renzon Maballo. Matteo Woo offers a spectacular clarinet solo, letting his notes fly above a pumping bass line and adding a taste of Benny Goodman’s big band style to the funky contemporary mix. The drums of Montero take the arrangement to a higher place pumping energy, like blood through the ensemble’s veins. The uniqueness of this arrangement has me listening to this tune more than once.

It was unusual to hear the melody of “Cherokee” drawn out in a slow rubato at the top of the tune.  But it didn’t stay there long.  The UNLV Jazz 1 members jumped into that arrangement without compunction or hesitation.  They fly through the changes like a rocket ship.  The arranger applies a call and response dynamic, with the horn section participating brightly.

All in all, this UNLV jazz ensemble plays complex charts. They make unique and well-written arrangements shine like diamonds. Directed by Dave Loeb and Nathan Tanouye, they are one of the top college groups in the country. The ensemble performs these adventurous arrangements with pride and gusto. Along with the University of Las Vegas Latin Ensemble and Contemporary Ensembles, UNLV has won 53 Downbeat Student Music Awards, including first place for best bands, arrangements and outstanding soloists since 2010.

THE UNLV JAZZ 1 ENSEMBLE MEMBERS: RHYTHM: Tristan Selzler & Christian Rodarte, piano; Jaren Glick & Kayne Johnson, guitar; Edoardo Lacala & Kalani Parra Molina, bass; Andrés Montero, drums. SAXOPHONES: Chris Ellis, alto & soprano; Jason Knuckles & Jaxon Dewald, altos; Skyy Estanislao, Sameer Arya & Renzon Maballo, tenors; Cole Henriques & David Nguyen, baritones; Matteo Woo, clarinet. TRUMPETS: Brandon O’Donohue (lead); Isaac Garza, Kyte Mettke, Miles Ray, David Nguyen & London Rodriguez. TROMBONES: Dylan Musso (lead); Matt Ellis, Colin Marks, Kirby Galbraith (tenor & bass trombones); Jasmine Lockwood, (bass trombone). VOCALISTS: Clint Holmes & Eva Yazdanpanah.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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