The Genkin Philharmonic's name would suggest an uppity ensemble playing the finest selections from classical composers, with their farewell Buffalo concert held in some elaborate ballroom. But that's not the scene for this philharmonic.
This chamber orchestra, composed of nine men playing instruments ranging from trumpet to the electric cello and the vibraphone, rocked Nietzsche's last Thursday, playing tunes varying from Zappa to Hendrix and original works as well.
The Genkin Philharmonic came a long way since its creation in 1999, when UB music professor Jon Nelson, founder, lead singer and trumpet player, started the ensemble as a class on the less-polished side of music performance.
"I wanted to get the kids exposed to this kind of music," Nelson said.
Their genre is a complex fusion of jazz, rock 'n' roll and swing, with a touch of big band feel. Innovative instruments, such as the electric cello and the didgeridoo were used to lay down this unique sound.
Their first tune, by King Crimson, alternated between sweet dreamlike sections on the vibraphone, and harder syncopated rock beats with the entire horn section. The unisons performed by the group leaped between ranges, yet never once fell out of tune.
Still other songs had a Latin flavor to them, shifting between driving bass lines and fluttering saxophone improvisations by Colin Renick on alto sax and Steve Basckowski, the musical curator at Hallwalls, on baritone and tenor saxophone.
Basckowski and Renick have a long-standing friendship since their early days in the Genkin Philharmonic, which is visible in their chemistry on stage.
"Musically, it's like we were separated at birth," Renick said.
The crowd rode the wave of excitement that the Genkin Philharmonic created, bopping to the beat, and at times audience members were so moved that they let out cries of enthusiasm and exhilaration.
Matt Thomas, a freshman music major, came to the show expecting a good time, and left feeling awestruck by the sheer rhythmic ability of the ensemble.
"Energy is the key in this group," Thomas said. "It's extremely infectious."
In one of the highlights of the evening, the ensemble played an original, composed by Nelson, called "Song for a Dead King," a lighthearted piece about the conspiracy surrounding the death of Elvis that showcased the band's nutty side. This blues-style tune combines the dexterous solos of the sax players with witty lyrics, classifying Elvis as "a master of disguise, you probably wouldn't recognize him if you saw him on the street."
In addition to exposing students to a more avant-garde approach, Nelson said he strived to teach these musicians that making it in the music business takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears, and is not necessarily as easy as university settings sometimes make it seem. Lugging equipment, setting up or playing in small clubs comes with the territory, Nelson said.
"I've been able to sort of force them to be independent," said Nelson.
The members of the group will truly be independent after next week's performance at the Festival Centro Historico, a weeklong musical celebration in Mexico City, which will be their last show as an ensemble.
Ghenkin Philharmonic may not be energizing small clubs for long. Several members graduated last spring, and the remaining few will graduate in May.
"It's just time for us to do some different projects," Nelson said.
Current alto sax player and UB alumni Colin Renick found the final show somewhat bittersweet. After traveling back to Buffalo from Indiana University, where he is working toward his master's in jazz studies, Renick refuses to give up on the Genkin Philharmonic.
"I'm holding out hope," Renick said. "Nothing is ever over."
