Arts & Culture

Dr. Grier Williams School of Music presents Jazz Ensemble & Combo in concert

The University of West Florida and the Dr. Grier Williams School of Music will present the Jazz Ensemble & Combo in concert on Wednesday, October 6 at 7:30 p.m. The concert will be held in the Mainstage Theatre at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts on the Pensacola campus. The concert will have a food theme, which has led to a fortuitous pairing with the Argo Pantry.

“I was looking for music for the fall concert and I came across several tunes that had food titles,” said Dr. Joseph T. Spaniola, director of Jazz Studies. “As I was searching, I also noticed that I had an information card about the Argo Pantry, which I was only vaguely aware of, on my desk. Since my programming and the Argo Pantry seemed to be aligned, I decided a concert highlighting the pantry would be a perfect pairing. A great opportunity to help raise awareness of the Argo Pantry with both our students and with the greater community who may be able to support the program.” 

Much of the food themed music is more obscure. By programming these pieces, the band gets to experience a lesser-known, but wonderful portion of the jazz repertoire. The Jazz Combo will present tunes like Johnny Mercer’s “Tangerine,” Barney Kessel’s “Swedish Pastry” and Chris Yacich’s “I Like Bananas.” The Jazz Ensemble will perform classic repertoire like Ricardel and Evans’ “Frim Fram Sauce” (made famous by the Nat King Cole Trio) or Dexter Gordon’s “Cheesecake,” and lesser-known pieces like Bob Curnow’s “Saffron” or Rick Hirsh’s “Free Food?” 

The Argo Pantry was established about eight years ago to help UWF students who suffer from food insecurity, which can be a significant barrier to academic success. College students who experience food insecurity often struggle to support themselves while working, attending classes and dealing with other life issues. While it is estimated that 30% of UWF students consider themselves food insecure, the Argo Pantry hopes to minimize the issue, allowing students to focus on academic goals and progress toward degree completion.

The Argo Pantry accepts non-perishable food items, personal care items, laundry detergent and school supplies. You can also send items directly to the Argo Pantry via Amazon or make a tax-deductible gift through the UWF Foundation.

This event is free and open to the public but tickets are required. Face coverings are not required, however the University, as well as the CDC, highly recommends the use of face coverings indoors. This will allow us to keep our on-campus and off-campus communities safe. For tickets or more information, visit uwf.edu/cfpa or call the CFPA box office at 850.857.6285.