Stating that this performance had personality would be an understatement. Last Monday, May 5, Josué Ríos López performed his senior recital profoundly titled “still here despite it all” held in Harper Hall. López opened his recital with the piece “Lotus” by Speen Wonder. López began his recital alone, but was then joined by his friends and collaborators. The piece was rhythmic and contrasted the very setting of this recital. López and his band began his recital with no greeting towards the audience, and no lighting provided for the players to be visible. The audience was welcomed only by López’s playing.
The next piece was “Unitled Original 11386” by John Coltrane. At this time, López’s bandmate senior Ben Lewis switched from the electric bass to the upright bass. The music was playful and light, however still booming in sound as it was around this time the music featured senior Jacob Bartelme on drumset. The music slowly trailed into a quieter tone, only accompanied by López’s bandmates on the upright bass and drums.
The following piece was titled “Airegin” by Sonny Rollins. This song demanded attention as it was high energy both in playing and volume. López’s playing of the guitar matched the beat of the drums, almost parting off in a dance with the rhythm of the song.
The next piece was “Public Domain” by John Scofield. During this segment, López and his bandmates already on stage were joined by senior Henry Hale on trumpet to play this song. The song had elements of jazz and is best described as lively in performance. The cymbals on Bartelme’s drum set made an appearance as they were hit repeatedly throughout the piece. The piece united the band with a pause in the music and then they were brought back with a clash of sound. The piece is best described as fervent in playing by all bandmates present on stage.
The next piece was “Canaanite,” an original work by López himself, as well as another piece of his own original work titled “The Darkest Valley.” This piece was when the stage first got greeted with stage lights. Red cloaked the bandmates and López. “Canaanite” was opened by newcomer to the stage junior Isaac Corby hitting the cover of the piano to count off the rest of the members. The style was freeform and erratic, as if all members and their instruments wished to steal the spotlight. The beauty of this piece was that no matter how hectic López and his bandmates got, the music produced collided in a beautiful and soulful fantasia of sound.
It is at this point when López put his guitar down and greeted his audience for the first time, thanking the bandmates who joined him onstage. López then thanked the jazz faculty, his family, his close friends and his partner.
López returned to his recital by playing a piece titled “Ezz-thetic” by George Russel. The piece is swing-like in sound but sweet. This piece was followed up by “Spinning Down” by Nate Smith. This was one of the only times in the recital where the mood could best be described as restful. The personality seen in the other pieces has quelled itself to a degree. It seems as if this was a deliberate action done by López, as this was a way to prepare the audience for the next piece.
The final track López played was titled “Take Stuff from Work” by King Missile. López gave a warning to the audience present that this would be “his own rendition” of the piece. Lopez and his bandmates began to play their own version of this piece. It was a dissonant piece, and López spoke over the music, “Take stuff from school, it might make you feel better for the eight dollars you pay for the freezer burned sandwiches.” Corby, now playing saxophone, squeaked in time with López saying, “Take chairs. Take a microwave.” Corby also began hitting the piano keys as López said “Tuition is so expensive.” The band members began chasing each other around the stage as López stood still and continued to speak. “Take the ceiling tiles,” López said. It was at this moment when López paused the music and stated, “I am in no way confessing or telling anyone to take stuff from school.” Afterwards his bandmates continued playing. López kept speaking about his hypothetical actions and false boasts of encouragement towards his peers. He ended his performance by saying, “This is a wonderful place to go to school. My final project is to play guitar with my friends. Life is good.” López’s final piece as well as his statements prove that he is still here despite it all.