By Allison Daze, sophomore

Soulstice, an elite six-member jazz combo at Friends University, has been a staple of the jazz department since the combo’s creation four years ago, and this semester it has experienced a significant change in personnel and instrumentation.

“They’re the cream of the crop,” said Lisa Hittle, head of the Friends Jazz Department.

The Jazz Department is made up of two traditional big bands and four smaller groups featuring four to six students called combos. Soulstice is the top of these combos, and all members are selected by audition.

Of the original six members, now only two remain—Jason Whitmore and Caleb Drummond. Three have graduated, and one chose to not return to school this semester.

“This semester it has really evolved,” said Hittle.

The current members of Soulstice are Whitmore and Drummond, playing saxophone and bass respectively, Seth Binford also playing saxophone, Patrick Horigan and Riki Eto, both playing electric guitar, and Tat Hidano playing drums.

In the beginning, the instrumentation featured one saxophone, one guitar, one trumpet, piano, drums and bass. Now, the group consists of two saxophones, two guitars, drums and bass. This is the first time the group has been composed of this combination of instruments.

Combos, unlike big jazz bands, are not limited to a specific instrumentation or size, said Hittle. But this semester’s combination of instruments is not common.

“I’m excited to peruse the new set up. It’s not typical,” Drummond said.

Since its creation in 2006, Soulstice has done a lot to publicize Friends’ Jazz music department.

“I consider them to be ‘jazz ambassadors’ for our school,” Hittle said.

They have performed at many high schools and community events across the state in addition to participating in various jazz festivals.

In April, Soulstice won the University of North Texas Jazz Festival College Combo Competition. Soulstice competed against jazz groups from colleges and universities from 14 states and Canada, including some larger school such as the University of Texas.

“For us that was kind of like winning a national championship,” said Hittle.

Also, the group was invited to perform for Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ inauguration in Topeka in 2007.
The group is looking forward to a full schedule this spring.

The first performance of the semester will be Feb. 19-20 at the 17th Annual Jazz Festival. The festival is hosted by Friends and is attended by about 30 middle school and high school jazz groups from all over the state of Kansas and even Oklahoma. Soulstice will perform during noon-hour concerts in Sebits Auditorium both days of the festival. These concerts are free and open to the public.

Also this month, Soulstice has been invited to perform for the second consecutive year at the Kansas Music Educators Association Conference. All groups performing at the KMEA Conference are selected based on taped auditions.
In March, the combo will perform at a laid-back concert called Casado Jazz Night. In April, the group will play at a jazz festival at the University of Northern Colorado, and in June, they will travel to France along with Jazz 1, Friends University’s top big-band jazz group.

“It’s a lot of performing, but it’s fun,” said Hittle.

Drummond, a fifth-year senior with plans to graduate in May, has enjoyed his experience in Soulstice and is pleased with the chemistry of the group’s new members.

He has been taking bass lessons from Friends Professor Dan Racer since his sophomore year in high school, but he did not play jazz until coming to college.

“I came out here (to Friends) and Lisa put me in a combo, which is one of the primary reasons I came to Friends,” he said.

His favorite aspect of being a part of Soulstice has been simply playing with the other guys in the band, he said.
In Soulstice, the members are allowed a lot of creative freedom. Hittle sees her role with the group as facilitator rather than teacher.

“They are all such high level musicians,” she said. “It’s totally a group effort.”