Jazz Appreciation
Aaron Wolf 12/1/10
The Comparison of Two Jazz Concerts

Jazz Appreciation class presented me with the opportunity to attend two, unique jazz concerts that differentiated in various aspects. I had the pleasure of listening to The Jameson Sanagin Aaron Wolf Duo and The Cuesta Night Band one night after the other. The differences between these concerts could not have been greater and while I closely observed the performers, their music, the venue and the audience, I found few commonalities between the two. Each was very intriguing to listen to, and the large range of differences between the concerts made it easy and interesting to compare and contrast them. Upon my arrival at these concerts, my attention was instantly drawn to observing the venues and the audiences. I first went to listen to The Jameson Sanagin Aaron Wolf Duo perform at the Steynberg Gallery, which is a café that contains a small room displaying many beautiful art pieces on the walls. The concert took place in this room and had a very relaxed, intimate vibe because of the size of the venue and the audience (about thirty people). This aspect of the concert contrasted with The Cuesta Night band’s performance the following night, which took place at Cuesta’s large auditorium. This venue attracted about seventy people who created a louder atmosphere because of the applause, shouts and whistles from many individuals. The high ceilings intensified and echoed the sounds from the audience and the instruments. A man who introduced the band and their songs briefly talked about the venue, and explained that he had wanted this new auditorium to feel like the venues where Duke Ellington and other famous jazz performers had played. The audiences at both concerts were very intrigued by the performances, rocking their heads to