Jazz Performance

Courtesy | Hillsdale College

World music will be performed by Hillsdale’s percussion ensemble accompanied by two guest artists and the Rob Roy Jazz band.

The performance will be held in McNamara Recital Hall at 8 p.m. on April 5, and will feature 11 songs, including traditional music from Cuba and Ghana, and fusion works by guest artists Mark Stone and Patrick Fitzgibbon of Oakland University. 

“We’re presenting a lot of new instruments and styles that people aren’t used to hearing,” Artist-Teacher of Music Stacey Jones-Garrison said. “Both of our guests, who specialize in these styles, are going to inform the audience about what they’re doing, and talk about the instruments, styles, and background.”

According to Stone, the performance will feature these new instruments, including the gyil, a wooden xylophone suspended over gourd resonators, in their traditional setting and integrate them into more familiar western styles.

Stone said that the concert will include two traditional West African drumming genres and a traditional Dagaa gyil composition called Yaa Yaa Kole that he arranged for percussion ensemble and jazz combo.

According to Stone, the concert will also feature two of his original compositions.

The first half of the performance will feature Mark Stone, and the second half will feature Fitzgibbon, according to Jones-Garrison.

Stone said studying abroad in Ghana, Uganda, and South Africa has had a formative influence on his compositions and worldview.

“While my time living in these three African countries and traveling to many other countries has introduced me to a tremendous range of musical repertoire,” Stone said. “It has enabled me to develop diverse approaches to knowing, listening, playing, composing, improvising, and ultimately being in the world.” 

Jones-Garrison said the audience can look forward to an upbeat performance.

“There’s going to be a lot of rhythm,” Jones-Garrison said. “There’s going to be a lot of groove.”