By ALEX CAMBOURIS
On Saturday, October 5, Beloit College’s very own Coughy Haus hosted a group of students under the name Pope Francis. From 10:30 p.m. to 12:15 a.m., the band played heavenly jazz and fusion tunes.
The wonderful cacophony of instruments included a striking set of keys hammered with delightful energy. A funky bass slapped and popped like it owed the band money. A delicious and quite frankly sexy saxophone hummed and bleated in a wondrous symphony. A steady, smooth drum line held together the entire show.
Unfortunately, the crowd was lacking in C Haus that night. A collection of other events drove attention away from the young performers. It is nobody’s fault, of course, but it was sad to see less support for our band here on campus.
I’m merely an amateur at music, unfamiliar with the ins and outs of playing with a band, but even I could see the love each musician had for their craft. Together, they played with heart and soul, regardless of the scene.
Music is an art, but it is also a language. Melodies can convey thoughts and feelings that would stump the most prolific of writers. The medium of jazz music is ambitious and even somewhat controversial. It’s not that hard to find some junked up west coast hipster yap about how jazz has “no rhythm” or “sounds like elevator music”.
Pay no attention to these dissenters. The boundless sea of music that is jazz, soul, and r&b, I believe, is terribly underappreciated in this day and age. This is not to say The Kids Aren’t Alright, only that people simply fail to realize how many f*cking bangers they are missing out on. T
he last year of my life has been chiefly defined by this fact. I was the one who learned just how little I truly knew about music. A
fter diving deep within the history of the genre, I feel as if I’ve been baptized once more, reborn as a new man with a new outlook on life. I recommend, no, I INSIST that each and every reader of this article brings a little bit of jazz into their life, it might just change your outlook.
Featured Image: Alex Cambouris’27
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