A jamming combo of piano, guitar, bass and drums was keeping time, but the audience was so entertained that time didn't matter.

BYU Jazz Voices kicked off the BYU Crescent Jazz Festival Wednesday evening with some sizzling and delicious music. The "Maynard Ferguson Tribute Concert" will conclude the Jazz Festival Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. Tickets are $9 for the public, $7.50 for alumni and seniors and $6 for students with ID.

Wednesday's performance was packed full of energy as the choirs and soloists performed familiar tunes such as "My Funny Valentine," "Blue Monk" and "Never Will I Marry."

"It was high energy and it was fun," said Hayley Singley, 20, from Canyon County, Calif., and soloist of "Never Will I Marry." "The audience was great. There was plenty of enthusiasm and that got us excited."

The group recently returned from New York, where they sang at the International Association for Jazz Education.

"It was a jazz feast, if you will," Singley said. "Being able to sing jazz in New York was fulfilling a dream of mine."

Amberly Larsen, 20, a student from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, said she was excited to be a part of Wednesday's performance.

"I just really love being on stage," she said. "That's where we come to life and our practicing all comes together."

Larsen said she hopes a lot of people will come to the concerts this week.

"I think a lot of people don't know what jazz is," she said. "This is a good opportunity to find out."



Copyright Brigham Young University 15 Feb 2007