ALAMOSA – Feed your soul with live music and feed a music student with worthy scholarships. Come rock, pop, and jazz out at the Adams State University music scholarship spring fundraiser. The event begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, at the Bistro Rialto, located at 716 Main Street in Alamosa. The night will include sounds by Stevie Wonder to Tower of Power and Bob Marley to the Rolling Stones to Aretha Franklin, and much more.

Tickets are $10 and all ticket proceeds go to the Steel Drum Tuning Account and Music Scholarships. Tickets are available through the Music Department or at the door. Seating is limited. Appetizers will be provided by the Bistro Rialto and the event includes a cash bar. The event is sponsored by the Alamosa Live Music Association (ALMA).

The musical event will feature 68 West, directed by Dr. Beth Robison, professor of music; and ASU Steel Band and the Community Steel Band, directed by Dr. James Doyle, associate professor of music. Performances will also include the ASU Horn Bands and ASU Jazz Combos. Doyle and Marc Eaton, adjunct instructor of music and Adams State alumnus, teamed up on the jazz and pop ensembles as co-directors. Eaton returned to Alamosa after receiving his master’s degree from Kingston University, in London, England.

“We wanted to provide our students with the practical experiences they will find upon graduation,” Doyle said. “Playing funk, rock, reggae, as well as jazz makes money for musicians. We often think of the rhythm section-drums, guitar, bass, and keyboard players-in popular music ensembles, but horn players can find paying gigs in bands as well. Standards in ‘horn bands’ include the hits of Tower of Power, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, etc. The students won’t be playing ‘watered down’ arrangements for this performance, but the actual charts from the actual recordings everyone knows and loves.”

Eaton and Doyle also created more opportunities for rhythm section players to gain experiences by rehearsing two separate bands. They selected some great and well-known jazz standards from the catalogues of Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, and others and have the horn players mixed and matched to the rhythm section.

“In addition to 68 West’s a capella vocal set, you’ll also hear some of our talented singers fronting the band by singing tunes everyone knows,” Doyle added. “This too gives ‘real-life’ experience in a pop setting.”

The plan for this semester was practical experience. In addition to the practicality of the tunes, the directors wanted to get the students off campus and out of an academic concert venue for the show. Doyle appreciates ALMA and the Bistro Rialto for making the fundraising event possible.

The community steel band will play a number and the university steel band will perform a tune. According to Doyle, the steel drums are in desperate need of tuning, something that requires a specialized person to come to campus and do. Some of the proceeds for the concert will go to the steel drum tuning account.

Proceeds will also help build the Music Department scholarship fund. Music students put in long hours of rehearsal and study time. Finding a job on a music student’s schedule is difficult and every little bit of scholarship money helps.

“I’m certain there is something for everyone at this concert and the students have worked very hard,” Doyle said. “We prepared far more music than we can present in one evening.”

For more information contact the Adams State Music Office at 719-587-7621.

Caption: Pictured, 68 West, the Adams State University a capella group, will be among the performers at the Music Scholarship spring fundraiser on April 25 at the Bistro Rialto. Courtesy photo