HSU Jazz Band to Present Annual Spring Concert by: Brylie Myers

The Hardin-Simmons University Jazz Band’s spring concert is scheduled for Thursday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m. in Van Ellis Theatre.

This year’s theme—groovy jazz from the ’60s and ’70s—was born the moment Dr.Jeffery Cottrell heard the Shaft theme on the radio last summer. “We try to do a theme for each spring concert,” he told me. “Last year’s was video game music, and this year’s is groovy jazz. It’s a fun way to tie the music together and explore a specific sound.”

The setlist reflects jazz’s adventurous spirit. “It best captures the spirit of jazz in that it shows the flexibility of jazz music to combine with rock, funk and even Latin music styles,” Dr. Cottrell, jazz band director, said. And improvisation keeps the night fresh: “Most of the pieces we’re doing have a section where one or more soloists improvise their music. Sometimes we add a solo to a prepared arrangement where there wasn’t one intended.”

Dr. Cottrell’s own touches help the band honor its roots. “On a few of the pieces we have changed aspects of the piece to make it more closely match the original recordings, like the introduction or the ending.” Those tweaks give students a chance to dig into the details that make the classics so memorable.

Of course, college schedules can get crowded. “The main challenges have been occasional schedule conflicts where a student could not attend due to an extracurricular activity,” he admitted. In those cases, they simply shift focus to whichever pieces and sections everyone can work on that day.

To Dr. Cottrell, the HSU Jazz Band is more than a collection of performances—it is a comprehensive education in sound and style. “For the most part it is making sure that the years the students spend in this band, they experience a wide variety of music and important pieces,” he says, emphasizing that navigating everything from big‑band standards to lesser-known gems builds both technical skill and historical perspective. That breadth, he believes, lays the foundation for true musical confidence.

He’s just as passionate about jazz’s next chapter. “I’m always excited to hear new young artists exploring different avenues in jazz composition. Some of the trends I have seen are combining jazz with different world music styles,” Dr. Cottrell notes. 

Dr.Cottrell’s own journey started at home—listening to his parents’ vinyl—and crystallized when he heard his high school jazz band play in junior high. Next spring, he plans to feature jazz worship songs with worship leadership students, along with original compositions by both students and himself.

Admission is free, with seating on a first‑come, first‑served basis. The Abilene community is invited to what promises to be an evening of dynamic, groove‑infused jazz under Dr. Cottrell’s direction.