Talon Hunter ('27), shown here during the Wind Ensemble concert in October, and his bandmates will be playing some funkier selections when the Jazz Ensemble presents its fall concert November 14
MONMOUTH, ILLINOIS (November 10, 2025) — The fine arts will step to the forefront at Monmouth College in mid-November.
The Monmouth College Jazz Ensemble will present its fall concert at 7:30PM, November 14, in the Kasch Performance Hall in Dahl Chapel auditorium.
"The concert features a heavy dose of swing tunes with a wide range of tempos, from moderate-tempo tunes written for the Count Basie band, to up-tempo works both old and new," said the ensemble's director, Steve Jackson, who noted the concert will also include a short set by the Monmouth College Jazz Combo.
Sophomore River Nevel of Buffalo Grove, Illinois, will provide some widely contrasting vocal stylings, from the energetic tune "When I Get Low, I Get High," made famous by Ella Fitzgerald, to the vocally soaring Basie band tune "Caught a Touch of Your Love."
Other composers and tunes of note featured in the concert include prolific jazz composer, saxophonist, and bandleader Wayne Shorter ("Speak No Evil") and legendary rock-and-roll composers Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller ("Kansas City"). The concert will also include Van Morrison's "Moondance," Charles Mingus's "Goodbye, Pork Pie Hat," trumpeter Roy Hargrove's funk tune "Strasbourg St Denis," and a 1930s-style up-tempo composition from the video game "Cuphead."
For those unable to attend, the concert will be live-streamed and preserved as a concert video on Monmouth College's YouTube channel.
Monmouth Associates
At noon on November 20, the next Monmouth Associates will be held, and in a new space — Mellinger Commons, which is located on the lower level of the Center for Science and Business.
Theatre professor Todd Quick and Monmouth theatre students will present a preview of their upcoming production of Our Town, which takes the Wells Theater stage November 21-23. The Associates program will feature a short performance, along with students reflecting on their experiences in the theatre program.
Quick will share insights about directing the timeless production and about Monmouth's dynamic theatre department, exploring how Our Town continues to celebrate the beauty of everyday life and community, both in Grover's Corners and right here in Monmouth.
The presentation is free, but there is a $15 charge per ticket to eat lunch at the event. Individuals attending the meal are asked to make reservations by November 18 at (309) 457-2323 or at alumni@monmouthcollege.edu.
