BY Abraham Seabrook
Staff Reporter
On Oct. 16 and 17 Sacred Heart University’s Academic Music Program hosted its musical event, “Guitar Fest” in the WSHU Broadcast Center’s Sone Family Assembly Hall. They hosted two concerts by Terry Pazmiño of Ecuador and “The Joe Carter Trio.”
The event on Oct. 16 included Latin music by Pazmiño. On Oct. 17 a combination of Jazz and Brazilian music, also known as Bossa Nova, by “The Joe Carter Trio” featuring Sacred Heart’s Academic Music Program Director Joe Carter on guitar, as well as Bassist Harvie Swartz and Drummer Graciliano Zambonin.
“We all freelance and have played with each other in different situations, but this time is the first time for this trio,” said Carter.
The trio played six songs that has influenced Carter’s musical career and helped him through life experiences. These songs are not composed by the trio but are covered by them for the first time using their musical experience.
“I play songs that are important to me,” said Carter.
Carter has performed all over the world from New York City, to Germany, India, and Brazil. In these places he has been influenced by new musicians and different types of jazz.
Swartz is an American Jazz bassist, educator, composer, arranger and producer. He is a Jazz Ambassador for the United States and toured all over Europe and Southeast Asia.
“I knew this is the person I wanted to record with, he doesn’t play any unnecessary notes and plays what he is supposed to,” said Carter.
Zambonin is a drummer from Brazil that has been studying music theory since he was 11. He taught himself how to play the drums and began playing professionally at age 18.
Jazz has allowed Carter to be able to communicate with other musicians from different places all over the world by playing music.
“Playing without actually talking, that’s the beauty of Jazz,” said Carter when talking about playing with musicians in different countries.
Some students thought that the two genres worked well together, as it showed a different side to both of them.
“I never heard a combination of Brazilian and Jazz but I really liked it. It felt so soothing to hear them play something I had never heard before,” said junior Fernando Gonzalez. “I really liked listening to two songs, “Influencia de Jazz” by Carlos Lyra and “Batida Diferente” by Mauricio Einhorn. “Batida Diferente” in particular because of the different beat throughout the song, it caught my attention from the moment they started playing.”
Students even found the music to be a source of relaxation during this time in the semester.
“I found it very entertaining and it gave me the ability to find a bit of relaxation during a tiring midterm week. I enjoyed listening to “Beatrice” by Sam Rivers, I felt the most relaxed and comfortable as they played,” said senior Sarah Evans. “It was a great event that shows another side to jazz music that most people haven’t heard.”
