Do you think scat is something you step in while you are hiking, or that a cat is just a furry animal? Flo’s Underground may teach you otherwise.

Every Friday evening, the Williams Recital Salon of DU’s Newman Center hosts a fabulous jazz concert, Flo’s Underground.

From 5 p.m. – 7 p.m., Flo’s features the talented students of the Lamont School of Music. Located in the cozy basement hall, this venue provides the opportunity to experience jazz performance in an intimate setting for improvisations and musical discourse.

Combos range in style from jazz standards to fusion, from be-bop to contemporary jazz, offering something for everyone. Performers often premiere stimulating original compositions and innovative arrangements. Available free-of-charge, seating fills up quick to students and jazz aficionados from across the community.

This is a light-hearted way to let off some steam after a long week and to start a Friday night before heading out.

The Lamont School of Music attracts talent from all over world. it is one of the few schools in the country to offer a specific jazz and commercial music major, and one of the only that offers dedicated vocal jazz training.

DU musicians study under renowned faculty, various members of which have played with household names in the jazz community such as Carmen McRae, Sheila Jordan and Freddie Hubbard. Each combo is coached by a different faculty member who helps facilitate practices and choose repertoire.

Flo’s Underground was cleverly named after the founder of the Lamont School of Music, Florence Lamont Hinman. It began in 2002 and has continued as a weekly tradition since.

The performance offers a wonderful opportunity to experience fresh, new talent, yet provides a thoroughly professional jazz experience – one that balances collaboration with individuality, fun with soul and improvisation with polish.

“Flo’s provides the students of the Jazz Studies and Commercial Music Combos, a total of eleven groups, an opportunity to present their art in an intimate environment that replicates many professional performance opportunities,” said Malcolm Lynn Baker, director of Jazz Studies and the Commercial Music program at Lamont.

Jazz is  an original American art form and its continuation depends on both the performers and the support of audiences. It is known for it’s stylistic use of improvisation, a very difficult musical skill wherein an instrumentalist or vocalist improvises an original melody over a tune’s chord changes. This guarantees a fresh performance everytime a jazz musician performs.

Baker suggests students and Denver residents come out to support and enjoy the new music coming out of Lamont.

“Flo’s provides the DU community the opportunity to hear young practitioners of great American music every week for free,” said Baker.

There are two more Flo’s concerts left this year, one this Friday and one next Friday, May 25. Both shows will be at 5 p.m. in the Newman Center for the Performing Arts.

This Friday, Flo’s Underground will feature the Album Combo performing selections from the Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown Album, and the Contemporary Combo, performing student’s original pieces.

On May 25, Flo’s Underground will move to Room 130 in the Newman Center to highlight the Advanced Vocal Repertoire and the Vocal Combo.

Listeners will find themselves plesasantly welcomed by the sweet and possibly dissonant tones of DU’s finest and funkiest young musicians.

If you’re unable to attend the concerts, you can live stream the performances at www.du.edu/lamontlive and enjoy the music from the convenience of your own home.

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