IUP Jazzmen (1988)

Here's a clip of a young, mustachioed Matt Norcross playing electric bass with the IUP Jazzmen. This Roy Mitchell arrangement of the Theme from The Jetsons was performed on 11/18/88 in Fisher Auditorium on the campus of Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

This was during my first year of college and it happened to be the first IUP Jazzmen performance that year. At this time, we weren't a completely "cohesive" unit but the show and this song both came off pretty well. By the time we went on our Spring 1989 tour, we were all much more accomplished musicians and tighter as a group. However, various "indulgences" while on the road may have impaired "some" playing during those later shows. Those are stories for another day...

Unfortunately, this video doesn't feature my friend, Sam Gabud, on drums. You'll see him sitting, sullen faced, behind the other drummer (Ben Rhodes). Sam was a monster behind the kit. His style was very much like that of John "Bonzo" Bonham of Led Zeppelin fame. When he laid down a beat, you "felt" it but he was also very versatile. We spent a lot of time playing odd time signature tunes like Missing Persons - U.S. Drag and, of course, Frank Zappa and Rush songs (a prerequisite for any college musician). He could be as nimble playing a Zappa or Rush tune as he could be powerful while hammering out a 4/4 beat. I'll be sure to showcase him in the next IUP Jazzmen clip that I post.

P.S. Isn't that "cheesy" high school (then college) mustache sad? I think that I finally shaved it off forever shortly after this performance.