Once the trumpets began to blow and the drums ignited a pulse of life into the music, the EC dance band had no intentions of letting the audience leave without a great show.

Last Monday, Kurt Festinger directed the dance band at the campus Haag Recital Hall.

All the strumming, button-pushing, blowing and beating was extremely interesting to watch.

The first song was an instrumental of Sammy Nestico’s “Basie, Straight Ahead,” followed by “Over the Rainbow”, performed.. by Satomi Mochizuki.

To be in the dance band, one has to take the class with Festinger on Mondays and Wednesdays.

The dance band puts on a show every semester.

They played a wide selection of Jazz music from the classics to a few modern pieces.

There was a part in the show where a few of the musicians stood up and played their instruments solo in an intricate manner.

Among were Ryan Shier, who did a trumpet solo, Yuka Mihara, alto saxophone, and Tom Long who performed a trombone solo.

After every solo the audience clapped and on occasion hollered.

They deserved it, though. No slip-ups were noticeable and they were professional with their passion and talent pouring out of their instruments.

The intimate room made the experience better; it made it personal.