Two contemporary jazz bands, The Alex Winkler 5 and the Bandara Quartet, feature students, who started through the UH jazz band, and they performed on Friday evening at a local cafe, Bohemeo’s. | Courtesy of Kalila Atchley
Located just outside downtown Houston, Bohemeo’s cafe filled up Friday for a melodic night of contemporary jazz performed by The Alex Winkler 5 and the Bandara Quartet.
Both groups blur the line between musical genres, blending in a variety of influences, including hip hop, rock and even Eastern styles, to their contemporary jazz.
The collaborations between the musicians of The Alex Winkler 5 and the Bandara Quartet started out through the UH jazz band. Music seniors Alex Winkler and Thanushka Bandara and alumnus Eric Bustamante originally met in a UH jazz combo in 2008. From then on, the musicians’ creative talents and ambitions flourished.
Winkler, who plays piano for The Alex Winkler 5, started in 2012 and got his inspiration from musicians Brad Mehldau, Chris Potters and Robert Glasper. He composes a range of music, such as film scores, classical music and jazz. Winkler had composed or arranged nearly every piece of the night’s performance, which he worked on for a span of three years.
“I listen to everything, but jazz is what I perform. It’s so free. You get to improvise,” Winkler said. “Ninety percent of what you hear is made up on the spot. It allows composers to have fun because you’re picking up as you play. It’s a refreshing experience.”
In contrast to the school performances at the Moores Concert Hall, the Moores music students who performed at Bohemeo’s Friday night got a chance to showcase their own personal style of music in a laid-back and casual atmosphere.
“I think it’s awesome. I know a couple of people who are playing, so it’s really cool to see them in action,” said education and music composition senior Kody Pisney.
“I’ve only seen them in performances at the school gigs, so it’s really cool to see them perform outside of school, performing like crazy. A lot of the music is written by them. From my impression, this just seems like them; it represents them well. Especially Alex. He’s a crazy guy.”
Music education junior Tommie Trinh agreed.
“We always perform music by other people and their type of school,” Trinh said. “This is them. I get to know who they are and get a taste for them and see what they have to offer.”
Bustamante, who plays saxophone for the Bandara Quartet, was originally drawn to the instrument by Lisa Simpson and the Pink Panther theme song. After hearing the two, he knew he wanted to play saxophone.
He gets his inspiration from artists Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, Dexter Gordon, Donny McCaslin and Avishai Cohen, and describes his music as “energetic and passionate” and “somber at times.”
When reflecting from the night’s performance, Bustamante felt connected.
“I can tell it is personal to Thanushka. I am glad the rest of us are able to add to the music,” Bustamante said. “It felt great to play this music, since it’s been a while since we’ve played a show. Everything seemed to connect and we were all in tune with each other musically.”
Music freshman Ryan Wollenberg, who plays tenor saxophone for The Alex Winkler 5, said he felt he gained confidence through performing.
“As a freshman, it was intimidating at first to get a chance to play with the big cats of the University, but after many rehearsals and chances to work with members of the the band, I developed the confidence to just have fun and make some great music with the group,” he said.
Winkler was also happy with the results.
“Tonight was a lot of fun. It was cool to see people who really support me,” Winkler said. “On top of that… the audience clapping every solo, clapping in between solos sometimes, you can tell they just love the music. That’s what we really wanted — that’s what it really means to us.”
