UCLA’s Jazz Combo Concert showcases student passion, musical growth

March 6, 2022

Creation is at the very core of UCLA’s jazz combos.

The UCLA Jazz Combo Concert, which took place on Sunday, aimed to showcase the musical advancements of various jazz combo groups over the last quarter. Typically consisting of fewer than 10 musicians, the small groups work together during academic year to explore composition, improvisation and arrangements to showcase their work at the end of the quarter. Along with the other jazz combo groups, the concert featured the UCLA Gluck Jazz Ensemble, which focuses on community outreach by performing at venues in Los Angeles County. Fourth-year global jazz studies student and drummer in the Gluck Jazz Ensemble Liam Wallace said playing in the combo with a tightly knit group of people has allowed him to get to know his peers and improve on his own musical performance.

“Our composition skills, they’re twice what they were when we started at the beginning of the year,” Wallace said. “The whole experience of composing and playing your pieces is one of the best ways to develop yourself as a musician.”