By Jacob Onken, Contributing Writer
At Saint Leo University, a recent faculty music recital took place on Nov. 1 in the Selby Auditorium. Overall, there were seven performances that covered genres of opera, classical piano, and jazz. The entire recital was led by university staff members such as, Mauricio J. Rodriguez, the director of the jazz ensemble and an adjunct music professor at Saint Leo.
There were seven performers overall as well: some playing more times than others. The ensemble was also joined by Pablo Arencibia, an adjunct music professor at the University of South Florida. Some of the standout performances included the renditions of “La Comparsa” and “Confirmation.”
“La Comparsa” starts off with Pablo Arencibia hitting a couple of piano keys before Mauricio Rodriguez comes in with his bass. The bass sounds as if it is, at first, being used as an accent piece to the piano. The two instruments start to sound like they are one, which is a testament to how well both Arencibia and Rodriguez play together.
The bass was like the inhaling of a breath and the piano the exhalation. A few times in the song Rodriguez and Arencibia play the same notes, but what really makes this rendition so good is when both men are playing different ones.
“Pablo and I have a great musical and personal relationship. We are preparing an album as a duo,” said Rodriguez when asked if he had ever performed with fellow musician Arencibia before.
The second song that Rodriguez and Arencibia performed was called “Confirmation” and it was played just as well. For this song, Mike DiRubbo, an adjunct professor at Saint Leo, joined in on the alto saxophone. Together DiRubbo, Rodriguez, and Arencibia all play their instruments at once. The chemistry as a group was electric.
Additionally, instead of three men playing different instruments, it sounded like one wall of music. Around halfway through “Confirmation” DiRubbo stops playing and allows Rodriguez and Arencibia to smoothly play their parts. At the end, the saxophone comes back in as the instruments slow down and they all stop playing.
Overall, there were no bad performances all night. Each staff member who played performed with all their heart and it showed. The recital continued to prove how talented that the Saint Leo staff are. If there is another Faculty Recital next year it will be a must-attend event for the students and staff that enjoy live music.
