Pushing the needle forward

The University of Dayton Jazz Ensemble regularly fills the concert hall of the Roger Glass Center for the Arts with complex melodies and playful arrangements, but their performance September 27 featured a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 

To celebrate the launch of Jazz Forward Dayton, a new Dayton-area nonprofit, Grammy-winning jazz trumpet player Ashlin Parker performed with DJE on many of his compositions, some of which have only been heard one other time by a live audience. 

“Tonight shows that there is a desire for more jazz in the city of Dayton,” Kelli Campbell, founder of Jazz Forward Dayton, said of the large crowd of community members in the audience. “We want to push the needle forward to get more jazz musicians to perform right here in the Gem City.” 

Jazz Forward Dayton aims to create opportunities for musicians to learn, perform and connect while enriching Dayton’s cultural landscape. Parker’s performance with DJE showcases the artistry and collaboration the nonprofit hopes to inspire for years to come, said Campbell.

The evening highlighted student soloists who took the audience on a jazz journey alongside Parker — ranging from swoonful legatos to fiery staccatos — bringing a confident energy palpable to everyone in the room.

“The students definitely rose to the occasion. I heard some notes I hadn't heard before,” musical director Willie Morris said after the ensemble completed their first song with Parker.

“Ashlin fist-bumped me right before my solo, and I knew I had to pull out all the stops,” said senior trombone player Matthew Kolsti. 

After playing through some of Parker’s big band pieces, DJE took a seat in the audience to witness a master class in jazz as a quartet took the stage. Made up of UD faculty member Keigo Hirakawa on piano, along with George DeLancey on upright bass, Reggie Jackson on the drums and Parker on trumpet, the quartet brought a different kind of jazz to the audience’s ears. 

Parker then invited longtime friend and Dayton musician Josiah Woodson to play on the last few songs. Woodson showcased his versatility on both the trumpet and flute with a friendly competitive back-and-forth with Parker.

“I’ve been listening to Ashlin since I was a kid,” sophomore trumpet player Zade McIntosh said.

“It’s so inspiring not only to hear him play live and speak with him, but to solo alongside him. Yeah, that was so cool.” 

Rodney Veal, host of “The Art Show,” the premier regional arts, theater and music television series presented on Dayton’s PBS station ThinkTV, provided closing remarks for the night. 

“Jazz artists have committed to giving us music of a certain quality of life deserving of our respect and support,” he said. 

It’s safe to say jazz is alive and growing not only on UD’s campus but in the broader city of Dayton. 

Photos courtesy of Stephen Mabarak and Elizabeth Krahe '27.