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Sunny ‘Jazz on the Lawn’ Previews ‘Spooktacular’
Published on October 22, 2026 - 4 p.m.
Southwestern Michigan College Jazz Ensemble’s “Jazz on the Lawn” fall/Halloween set outside the Dale A. Lyons Building Oct. 22 previewed “Spooktacular.”
SMC’s fall band concert takes place Friday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. in the theatre of the Dale A. Lyons Building on the Dowagiac campus.
More than 40 people lined the retaining walls to listen to the first performance of the 2026-27 year. Some brought lunch to take advantage of sunny 69-degree weather.
Director Mark Hollandsworth’s Jazz Ensemble opened with an original melody that experimented with the common 2-5-1 chord progression and the standard, “Autumn Leaves.”
It featured Hector Salguero of Watervliet on trombone, previous bass player Gavin Dibble of Constantine on tenor saxophone, Annalis Ramos of Bangor and Andrew Culver of Three Rivers on alto saxophones.
“This is one of the larger crowd’s we’ve had, and I can totally understand why. It’s almost 70 degrees and just beautiful. We’ve been out here before dodging sleet,” Hollandsworth said. “We’re all going to be in costume” for the Halloween-themed concert on Oct. 30, with trick-or-treating before and after the show. “We’d love to have you there.”
The 1939 ballad “Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz spotlighted two trumpets, Kaylee Vette of Lawton and Brayden Rice of Cassopolis.
Stevie Wonder’s 1972 “Superstition” was up next, with solos by Rice and Culver.
The Jazz Ensemble closed with a 1966 blues composition by pianist Horace Silver that featured Rizzo on tenor sax and Corey Matthews of Three Rivers on guitar.
Arrive early and make it a night, as Nola Roux’s food truck offers for sale before the free concert a variety of Cajun dishes such as etouffee and jambalaya from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the semi-circle drive outside of Lyons.
Director of Choral Activities David Carew said his fall concert, “Elements,” is scheduled for Nov. 6.
“All of the music has to do with fire, water, rain and earth. There will be four sets.”
Carew added, “On Monday of that week, Nov. 2, at 2:30, we’ll have an open dress rehearsal in the new choir space” inside Lyons. “We’d love to see you there.”
