Jazz Ensemble Jams in CRC Atrium

A quintet--playing congas, guitar, drums, upright bass and piano--perform in the Clinical Center atrium.

The University of Maryland Jazz Ensemble played in the CRC atrium, entertaining staff and patients.

Photo: janice duran

The five musicians stand, posing together, all dressed in black.

Group members are (from l) Danny Villanueva (percussion), Gerry Kunkel (guitar), Joey Antico (drums), John Previti (acoustic upright bass) and Jon Ozment (piano).

Photo: janice duran

Percussion (congas and drums) round out the jazz ensemble.

Villanueva and Antico

Photo: janice duran

Guitarist and drummer performing in the atrium

Kunkel and Antico

Photo: janice duran

Musicians play with grand piano in forefront

Previti and Ozment

Photo: janice duran

The University of Maryland Jazz Ensemble performed a lunchtime concert in the atrium of the Clinical Research Center on July 13.

They started the set with Surrey With the Fringe On Top, played with a light jazzy air.

“It was a perfect way to begin the set, I thought,” said Gerry Kunkel, the group’s guitarist. “Some of my favorite songs we did were Poinciana featuring Jon Ozment on piano. This piece became a jazz chestnut when the great Ahmad Jamal performed it. I love how Jon plays this one and it is a favorite of the whole band…

"We also played two Antonio Carlos Jobim classics, Triste and the ever-beautiful Corcovado. I used my nylon string with these two tunes and it lent a more authentic Brazilian sound to the songs, plus I love to play acoustic nylon string guitar anyway and it was a good chance to use one of my favorite instruments. We ended the set with an ode to the season, Summertime by George Gershwin. We played it with an up-tempo Afro-Cuban beat, which I love and it was a strong way to bid our listeners adieu.”

The group features University of Maryland professors and alumni and is a perennial campus favorite.