By Matt Fulkerson/reporter

The rain and chill in the air Oct. 15 did little to dampen the mood as a NW professor and his fellow musicians took to the stage on NE Campus.

Carpenter and his ensemble performed a set of jazz, fusion and Latin music in a performance presented by NE’s music department.

“I hope that students will be inspired to study and practice music,” said department chair Karen Parsons.

Joining Carpenter on stage were NW music instructor Mario Cruz on saxophone and local musicians Jeremy Hull on bass, Thomas Woods on piano and Zach Heffley on trumpet.

The ensemble began the evening with their rendition of Thelonious Monk’s “Blue Monk.”

“It reminded me of music from the 1940s,” said NE student Mary Swetonic. “It was very calming.”

The ensemble continued into the night with classics such as Ray Noble’s “Cherokee” and Chick Corea’s “Space”.

“It was mind-blowing to see them in action,” said visiting Weatherford College student Sarah Smith. “I have no other words to describe it.”

The group steadily ramped up the evening, climaxing with its performance of Randy Brecker’s “Some Skunk Funk” before slowing things down with Michael Brecker’s “Song for Bilboa.”

“It was a lot of fun,” Carpenter said. “We hope to do more of these concerts at other campuses in the near future.”