The lights dimmed and the crowed fell into a hushed silence as Richard Kriehn and Frederick “Dave” Snider began to pluck at the strings of their instruments, filling Bryan Hall Theatre with the sound of jazz, Friday night.
Snider seemed to almost speak to his large acoustic wooden bass. His lips moving inaudibly as his body meshed with the instrument. He appeared to be almost in a trance with the music, yet as soon as it ended he cracked a joke and spoke with the audience. A more reserved Kriehn meditated with the music he played on his mandolin, as his fingers danced across the strings.
The two men performed for the first time together for the Faculty Artist Series put on by Washington State University’s School of Music. Snider and Kriehn are faculty members of the Washington State University School of Music. The Faculty Artist Series helps to fund the WSU music student scholarships. The concert series offers a new ensemble once every month that is free to WSU students and $10.00 for the general public. Snider and Kriehn spoke to the audience often and kept the mood relaxed while they explained the name of their show, Gypsy, Jazz, and More.
Happy to find jazz close to home, Frank and Grace Karp of Moscow, Idaho refer to themselves as jazz connoisseurs. The pair was more than willing to pay the $5.00 entrance fee for senior citizens knowing the money would go towards students. “ I wish they would advertise more.” “As you can see, most of the people here are older folks from the community,” Frank Karp said, motioning to the small audience.
Gypsy jazz was started in Paris in the 1930s by a guitarist named Jean "Django" Reinhardt. It is a mix of folk and jazz with fast paced gypsy instrument influence. “The mix really is quite interesting.” Grace Karp said.
Kriehn and Snider stuck with their title and played more than just gypsy and jazz. They also managed to mix in blues tunes and a Brazilian number called “Nao Me Toques” that had the crowd happily swaying to the rhythm. At the duo’s fifth song they invited fellow faculty member Brian Ward to the stage. Ward accompanied them in playing the song “C Jam Blues” in the key of D.
Guest musicians were a common theme during this small and relaxed concert. As Snider and Kriehn received their final call they welcomed Washington State University School of Music student Olivia Thomas and the band “Genevieve” to perform with them. Thomas wowed the audience with her soulful voice in a rendition of “After You’ve Gone” and the band members of “Genevieve” provided back up vocals and a smooth saxophone to the mix. The audience did not leave disappointed.
Sniders wife Denise Snider, also a musician, said her husband had been practicing music since he was 14 and still practices for at least an hour every day. Snider left after the concert to perform a show at Rico’s Public House, a location where he often performs in downtown Pullman.
Kriehn began playing the Mandolin at 10 years old. His passion for music grew from there. “There are two types of people when it comes to music, there are those who love it and then there are those who need it. I need it.” Kriehn said.
The next Faculty Artist Series performance will be February 10, 2012 at the Bryan Hall Theatre. -CMM
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