(BRANCHBURG, NJ) -- The Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) Jazz Band will perform in concert Thursday, December 12, 2024 at 7:30pm. The performance will be held in the Welpe Theatre at the Branchburg campus. The Jazz Band is directed by RVCC Adjunct Faculty Dr. Oliver Santana, a gifted saxophonist, woodwind doubler, arranger, and educator who has been on the music scene for close to 30 years.
Musical numbers for the concert include: Autumn Leaves by Joseph Kosma; Yesterdays by Jerome Kern; Oliloqui Valley by Herbie Hancock; Guess Who I Saw Today by Murray Grand, with lyrics by Elisse Boyd; Tough Talk by Wayne Henderson and Joe Sample; Beneath The Mask by Lyn; Contemplation by McCoy Tyner; and Influx by Oliver Santana.
Jazz Band performers include: vocals: Linda Matos and Sarah Stefaniak; saxophones: Anna Walsh, Joseph Lascala, Horace Smith, and Daniel Santos; trumpet: Yavier Alvarez; Guitar: Gianmarco Flores, Ellyot Paredes Cruz, Jimmy Kosta, and Nate Richemond; piano: Zaire Wilson, Michael Cadwallader, Daniel Lopez-Ortiz, Derek Krasnansky, and Daniel Santos; bass: Wonchan Choi and Joshua Zalot; and drums: Christian Sergile, Damon Deangelo, Andrew Ho, and Kevin Cruz.
A native of Puerto Rico, multi-skilled musician Oliver Santana can be found in the Jazz, Classical, and Latin Music scenes. He began his musical studies at Berklee College of Music and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Classical Saxophone from The Conservatory of Music in Puerto Rico. Santana later served as the arranger and Lead Alto Saxophonist in the world-traveling Warner Robins Air Force Band. He completed his Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies at Georgia State University under the guidance of Dr. Gordon Vernick, and recently completed his DMA at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University under the mentorship of Dr. Paul Cohen. Santana is also a Grammy Award-winning Saxophonist for his participation on the album, Covered: Alive in Asia (Israel & New Breed, 2015).
General admission tickets cost $12 each, $8 for students and seniors. For tickets, contact the Box Office, 908-725-3420. For additional information, call 908-218-8876. Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, New Jersey.
