Gettysburg College Jazz Ensemble Performs with Summer Camargo
(Courtesy of Summer Camargo’s Instagram, @summercamargomusic)
By Sarah Daniels, Content Manager
On Friday, Feb. 21, the Gettysburg College Sunderman Conservatory’s Jazz Ensemble performed ten songs at the Majestic Theater under the direction of Dr. Amanda Heim. Four of those songs starred Summer Camargo, a renowned trumpet player in the jazz community.
The first piece, titled “Hot House”, was written by Tadd Dameron. Featuring Lucas Ramirez ’28 on the piano, Sal Formisano ’26 on the trumpet, Nadav Weisberg ’28 on the guitar, Thomas Manning ’25 on the tenor saxophone and Justin Morgan ’27 on the alto saxophone, the piece was a fast-paced start to the concert.
Following was “Lover Man” written by Jimmy Davis, Roger Ramirez and Jimmy Sherman. This piece written for Billie Holiday featured Lucas Ramirez on the piano and Morgan on the alto saxophone.
“Hard Times” by Paul Mitchell was third; Dr. Heim aptly stated that the beat of the song “doesn’t feel like you’re having a hard time.”
This lively piece had five soloists: Morgan on the alto saxophone, Ben Casinelli ’26 on the trumpet, Ramirez on the piano, Formisano on the trumpet and Jeff Dieteman ’28 on the trombone.
A piece by Gerald Wilson, “Teri”, was written for his daughter with the same name. The beautiful soloist guitar part was played by Weisberg.
The following four pieces of the program were composed by Duke Ellington.
“Rent Party Blues” featured Morgan on the soprano saxophone, Casinelli on the trumpet and Dieteman on the trombone.
From Duke Ellington’s “New Orleans Suite,” the song “Thanks for the Beautiful Land on the Delta” featured a talented Manning on the tenor saxophone.
For the composition “Portrait of Louis Armstrong,” Summer Camargo made her appearance, soulfully playing in a raspy, jazzy tone on her trumpet associated with Armstrong.
Camargo and Orazio Thomas ’25 on baritone saxophone starred in the next piece, “Aristocracy à la Jean Lafitte.” With this electric song, the Duke Ellington portion of the program closed.
A composition by Harry James, titled “(You’d) Better Have Four,” featured two extremely talented individuals: Camargo on the trumpet and Morgan on the alto saxophone.
To finish the performance, a bright, quick tune, “A Night in Tunisia,” written by “Dizzy” Gillespie and Frank Paparelli, was performed with soloists Isaac Master ’25 on bass, Camargo on trumpet, Manning on tenor saxophone and Dieteman on trombone.
Ella Koup ’27, a trumpet player in the Ensemble, spoke to the influence that Camargo has over her section. “This was my favorite jazz ensemble concert because of Summer. She is an amazing trumpet player, and as a trumpet player myself, I really look up to her and she was really inspiring.”
Chloe Hanousek ’27, an audience member, was in awe of the performance. “The band played spectacularly with Summer Camargo. She gave 110% in her performance. So amazing!”
