The Moorpark College Music Department held their small-scale jazz and chamber music performance, “An Intimate Evening of Music” on April 9 in the Performing Arts Center.

Inside the dark ‘Black Box’ theater of the Performing Arts Center, a small group of dedicated musicians performed solo performances, smaller group performances called chamber music, as well as jazz standards complete with improvisation.

Director Brendan McMullin coordinated the event and spoke about what made this night different from more ‘traditional’ concert experiences.

“It’s easy in a large ensemble to hide if you’re in a section of, say, four or five clarinets, and let the other person next to you who knows the part better play it more than you,” McMullin explained. “When you’re playing in a small group, there’s no hiding. You’re the spotlight. You have to know the music at a deeper level.”

The audience of the Black Box theater is placed much closer to the performers than in the larger main stage of the Performing Arts Center. The front row of seats is pressed right up to the performers, who were standing only a few feet away.

The longest portion of the performance was dedicated to a jazz combo; an alto saxophonist, a trumpet player, a bassist and a pianist.

The combo was led by Roy Bletscher, an alto saxophone player and a second-year student at Moorpark College. Bletscher curated their list of songs to perform and even arranged several pieces of sheet music for them to play.

Bletscher talked about their role as a ‘band leader’ and the responsibilities it required.

“For something like jazz, where it’s so improvised, you have to maintain the structure and rein it in enough to keep the band going so we don’t crash and burn,” Bletscher said.

Bletscher also expressed relief towards being able to perform in front of an audience, especially after the college began lifting COVID-19-related restrictions last semester.

“It is still nice to frickin’ get applause and appreciate all your band members,” Bletscher said. “To have that validation, and to share it with people.”

After the performance winded down and after McMullin gave his closing remarks, the director jumped in to join the combo himself with his own trombone, ending the night with one last song.

“When you have one hundred percent focus and one hundred percent connection with the people around you, that’s where the goosebumps kick in,” McMullin said. “The vast majority of people out there don’t feel that moment … we’re actually the lucky ones.”

For more information on upcoming music performances and other events at the Performing Arts Center, click here.