Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Traditional pop, Caribbean and Latin tunes will be presented by the SFA Steel Band in its annual spring concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 30, in Cole Concert Hall on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University.
The nine members of the ensemble perform on a full set of steel pans (made from 55-gallon oil drums), an electric bass guitar, drumset and a large array of Latin percussion--or as they say in Trinidad, the "Engine Room," explained Scott Harris, SFA assistant professor of percussion and the band's director.
Each of the band members will be featured as soloists throughout the program that includes "Baby I Love Your Way," "Take On Me," "Samba El Gato" and "Maryanne." Max McRuiz, Longview junior and Steel Band member, will sing the Disney hit "Under the Sea."
Joining the band for "Cha-Cha Sandwich and the "Limbo" will be a four-piece horn ensemble consisting of trumpeters Jerry Gonzalez, Garland graduate student, and Nick Moore, Ben Wheeler junior; Harker Heights senior Alvin Eclavea, tenor saxophone; and trombonist Todd Rogers, Forney senior.
Guest vocalist Danya Salinas, Richardson senior, will sing the traditional "Besame Mucho" and Gloria Estefan's hit "Higher."
The Steel Drum Band is one of the most popular performing ensembles in the SFA School of Music, according to Harris. The group has appeared at Chili's Restaurant, Scare on the Square, the Nine Flags Christmas Festival, the Nacogdoches Chili Festival and at the Texas Music Educators Association convention in San Antonio.
Harris invites everyone to the March 30 concert. "Put on your Hawaiian shirt and have a little spring time fun by joining us for a memorable evening of fun, excitement, and of course the Limbo dance--a featured event at every SFA Steel Band performance."
The concert is a joint presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Music. Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $2 for students. Cole Concert Hall is located in the Wright Music Building, 2210 Alumni Dr. For tickets or more information, please visit www.sfasu.edu/finearts or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.