Jazz Concert returns to Gavilan College stage after pandemic hiatus
by Jan Janes on Nov 24, 2021Jazz@Gavilan was the first live performance at Gavilan College Theater in early November, following 19 months of shelter-in-place, pandemic regulations that precluded large, in-person events. The college music faculty worked with the administration and county health regulations to safely bring music and people together on campus.
Two lines formed: one where jazz concert attendees scanned a QR code for contact
tracing, showed ID and proof of vaccination; and one where people purchased tickets
to the event. Students attended free of charge.
After checking in, concert goers received a green bracelet, allowing them passage
in and out of the venue.
Greeting jazz lovers as they arrived, Siena Behroozi and Theater
Director John Lawton-Haehl handed out the evening’s program.
Jazz aficionado Brad Stone served as Master of Ceremonies, introducing the various
performers and describing their musical roots. Dr. Stone also teaches chemistry at Gavilan.
For Jazz@Gavilan, the trio of Dahveed Behroozi, on piano, Ryan Pate on guitar,
and Jason Lewis on drums, performed an original work composed by Behroozi.
They followed it with two older standards, East of the Sun by Brooks Bowman
and Crepuscule with Nellie by Thelonious Monk.
Dahveed Behroozi led the trio in original jazz compositions. A music instructor at
Gavilan College, Behroozi teaches piano, harmony and theory, music history, and
guides the vocal and instrumental ensemble.
Using rhythmic patterns from traditional music, pianist Vardan Ovsepian and dancer
Mizuho Sato performed a jazz-inspired Flamenco duet. Ovsepian is a solo artist and
teacher at the Musical Suite in Newburyport, MA. Sato is a classically trained ballet
and Flamenco dancer who performs in multiple venues in the US and Tokyo.
Do you have a yearning to explore your own musical talent?
Gavilan College has a robust music program. You can learn history and theory, piano, vocals and instrumentals, collaborating with other musicians. Spring 2022 registration is now open. Discover more information about Gavilan College, and view the spring schedule to see all the music classes available.