Semir Jackson
A&E Editor
On Friday, Sept. 19, The College of Wooster kicked off its annual Homecoming & Family Weekend. One of the weekend’s highlights was a concert featuring the Wooster Jazz Ensemble and the Wooster Symphony Orchestra titled “More Amor: A Tribute to Wes Montgomery” in McGaw Chapel. Jeffrey Lindberg, music director and professor of music, conducted the ensemble. The concert also featured acclaimed jazz guitarist Bobby Broom, who performed alongside the jazz ensemble and orchestra to conclude the first day of Homecoming Weekend with an energetic performance.
The College of Wooster Jazz Ensemble opened the concert with their rendition of “Blues in the Closet” by Oscar Pettiford. The song started with Andrew Maloney ’28 on drums, soon joined by various saxophones, forming an amalgamation of crisp notes to begin the concert.
After “Blues in the Closet,” Lindberg introduced Broom to the stage. His charisma and witty banter lit up the stage. Once he was settled, the stage was set for the next piece, “Road Song” by Wes Montgomery. Bobby entranced the audience with his electric guitar, bringing a melodic tone to the forefront while the trumpets and violins provided a soothing but dramatic sound. They soon transitioned to “What the World Needs Now is Love” by Hal David and Burt F. Bacharach, followed by “Four on Six” by Montgomery. This piece included string instruments and highlighted bassist Emma McKone ’26 and pianist Noah McDonald ’26.
Following “Four on Six,” the audience was greeted with “West Coast Blues” by Montgomery. This song had a tranquil and quaint feeling, thanks to Broom’s broad versatility on guitar. The next song was “Somewhere” by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. The clarinets had full control of the stage, serenading the audience with a sound best described as singing. Violins melded with the clarinets, forming an incredibly soothing arrangement which ended on a faded low note, allowing the audience to fully savor the beauty of the song.
The program continued with its namesake: “More, More, Amor” by Sol Lake. While Broom led the song, saxophone soloist Tobi Aina ’28 provided the audience with a warm and enthralling display.
Next in the program was “Fried Pies” by Montgomery, which again highlighted the string instruments. “Baubles, Bangles and Beads” by Robert Wright and George Forrest and “Dreamsville” by Henry Mancini, Jay Livingston and Raymond Evans were next on the program. The program ended with “Boss City” by Montgomery. The piece featured sharp notes and crescendos, creating a dynamic contrast that concluded with a subdued ending.
“More Amor: A Tribute to Wes Montgomery” provided a fun and refreshing end to an energy-filled day, displaying the efforts and abilities of Wooster’s music department.