The lights dimmed as the performers took their place on stage. The first note hit the silence that hung in the air and filled the room with the sweet sound of jazz.
Webster University celebrated Black History Month on Feb. 5 with a jazz concert in Winifred Moore Auditorium featuring music by composer John Norment. Norment was a prominent jazz player in St. Louis before his passing in 2005. Lawrence Fields, Willem Von Hombracht, Nick Savage and Bennett Wood honored him by playing pieces composed and performed by Norment himself.
Fields, a St. Louis native, is a rising star pianist in the jazz world. He has played in several bands featuring artists like Lewis Nash, George Mraz, Chris Potter and Dave Douglas.
“Some of the first integrated establishments of any kind in the U.S. were jazz clubs,” Fields said. “Jazz music was actually the reason why people decided to come together and cross that barrier at the start, which is pretty amazing. So I just feel like in every note that we play, that history is kind of in there.”
This year’s Black History Month theme is African Americans in the Arts. The theme is meant to honor the history of African American artists and the artistic movements they helped create.
Fields released his debut album “To the Surface” Feb. 2 on all streaming platforms. His tour consisted of two shows in St. Louis on Feb. 7 and 8 at the Ferring Jazz Bistro at Jazz St. Louis before traveling to Europe to continue performing.
Fields worked alongside John Norment during his time in St. Louis before moving to the East Coast.
“I feel like the history of jazz music is part of the history of the African American experience here. And it’s not as commonly talked about, but they were almost kind of pushing each other at the same time,” Fields said.
Fields was invited to work with the weekly Jazz Master Class at Webster, which is offered to students pursuing a degree in jazz. He spoke with students about his experiences as a professional performing musician, and students were able to perform for him. Fields offered critiques and showed them exercises to help develop their musicianship.
Bennett Wood, the Director of Jazz Studies at Webster, helped organize the concert and taught the master class Fields joined.
“It was amazing for our students to have the opportunity to interact with somebody of that level and see also that he brings humility, and a reverence for the music,” Wood said.
Wood filled in for the originally planned saxophone player, Austin Cebulske, at the last minute.
“I think any time we come together as an audience, we’re experiencing a sense of community,” Wood said. “Whether we’re going to a theater to watch a movie, experiencing music or going into an art gallery, all those are different kinds of experiences that bring us together around art.”
Savage, who received his masters in Jazz Performance in 2008 from Webster, had the idea to honor and celebrate Norment’s music through the concert. He attended many of Norment’s performances when he was in high school. It was Norment’s band that inspired Savage to pursue jazz.
“I think it’s important to note that when we’re playing jazz here in Webster Groves at Webster University, it’s really special. It transcends playing music in St. Louis. It transcends playing music in Missouri. It transcends playing music in surrounding states,” Savage said.
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