The Fall Semester Recital Series

February 6, 2008 by Jamal Mathis.

Jamal Mathis performing at Cedar Valley College on September 12, 2007 for their Fall Semester Recital Series with Drummer Andrew Griffith, and Bassist Thad Jackson.

Jamal Mathis (Chillin’ in the Moonlight)

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This is me with bassist Thad Jackson, and drummer Andrew Griffith at Cedar Valley College performing (Chillin’ in the Moonlight). The music department at Cedar Valley host a series of guest artist to perform in their performance hall for their Semester Recital Series during the beginning of each semester. I was glad that Roger Dismore (Music Department Chairman) took my call when I asked him to perform; eventhough I attended Cedar Valley in the past. We opened up with Chillin’ in the Moonlight as always. The drummer Andrew Griffith is the same drummer who performed with me on the Tuesday Nite Jazz! Series at St. Paul United Methodist Church back in June. He’s a reliable guy. I found Thad Jackson at my music teacher’s recital she was giving for her students. She invited me to perform a short number while I was there. I had to call Thad at the last minute for this event because my other bassists were either unavailable or had something else going on at that time. Luckily, Thad was available and could play by ear. I sent him the sheet music, and when it came time for us to rehearse, he didn’t have the music. Reason being, since it was the last minute, he learned all the tunes we had to perform by ear from my CD. I was surprised and worried that he might forget his parts, but he amazed me at rehearsal. As you noticed on the video above, he was feeling the music and was into it. He told me he doesn’t use sheet music because it’s better for him to feel the music as he plays. I’m glad it all turned out great. Also in the video, you saw my father filming us from a hand held camcorder. I guess he couldn’t get a better shot of us while we were performing. He sat in the front row too. Instead, I asked for a copy that the school recorded. I didn’t even know that they record each performance at the time. After the event was over, Roger Dismore gave me a big hand shake well done. He told me he enjoyed the whole set; eventhough, my father walked around the stage. I was glad everything came out great as well.

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