BMCC Jazz Ensemble Performs Live on National Radio Show at WBGO

The Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) Jazz Ensemble performed for a live national audience on the public radio station WBGO, 88.3 FM on April 18. The radio station is considered by many to be the nation’s top jazz station. WBGO also featured the BMCC performance on the front page of its website. The BMCC performance was part of the WBGO’s Jazz Appreciation Month celebration.

Founded in 2018, the ensemble is made up of BMCC music students led by Music and Art Professor Quentin Angus. So far, the ensemble has performed both on and off campus, including performances on Bronxnet TV, and at the Johnny Pacheco Latin Jazz Festival at Lehman College (CUNY).

“This was the ensemble’s most high-profile performance to date,” said Angus. “Performing on WBGO is the equivalent of playing at a legendary jazz club such as New York City’s Blue Note, Village Vanguard, or Birdland.”

The ensemble played a set of five jazz standards during the live performance including: Dream a Little Dream of Me; Filthy McNasty; All of Me; Mr. PC; Work Song.

Appearing on WBGO was also a significant achievement for BMCC’s two-year-old music major. Angus used the air-time to promote brand new program and noted the college’s music major provides its students with fundamental tools they can use throughout their careers. He also told the audience that BMCC’s music program has articulation agreements with a number of four- year senior colleges.

“We focus on jazz ‘standards’ as the repertoire for the group, so students can learn the tradition of jazz, along with developing their improvisational and theoretical skill sets. Though we do do some contemporary piece, for example ‘Nemisis’ by Aaron Parks, or some students even bring in original compositions of theirs that we perform,” said Angus.

He also shared details about the ensemble’s next big performance coming up on May 11 with jazz artist Roxy Coss and the Roxy Coss Quintet in Theatre 2 at the BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center on May 11 at 3 p.m.

The BMCC students were thrilled to be performing at the storied radio station for a live national audience.

“The coolest thing about performing at WBGO studios was knowing that my family, in Washington D.C and Florida was listening along live,” said music major and ensemble member Seth Hershman. “I could feel them in the room!”

He said being in the BMCC Jazz Ensemble over the past year, had taken his musical vocabulary to a new level.

Music major David Milkis said “I’d never felt like we could be a part of something that others will be intently listening to. It felt like we were professionals. Milkis, who is focused on classical music, has been able to branch into jazz in the BMCC program. “I’ve been playing better and better everyday because of this group. I don’t have many outlets to crossover to jazz,” he said.

The BMCC Jazz Ensemble includes: Milai Taguchi (piano), Nova Luz and Daniel Camposi, vocals; Raymond Raymos, trumpet; Luke Bester, alto saxophone; Alexandria Flores, tenor saxophone; Jacob Vega, trombone and bass; Jung Jae Shin, guitar; Seth Hershman, piano; David Milkis, cello; David Pino, bass and Whanho Oh, drums.

To listen to the entire show at WBGO, click here.