Last Chance for South City Jazz

Salt Lake Community College's South City Jazz is made up of 13 singers and 3 instrumentals; a piano, bass and percussion. Their concerts consist of choreography mixed with anything from traditional, current boy band and Latin music.

South City Jazz practice at the South City Campus of SLCC with direction from Lyle Archibald and choreographer Lisa Arbon. Archibald is the director for choral activities at SLCC as well as Conductor of Odyssey Chorale. He received a bachelors from Utah State University, a masters degree from Brigham Young University and is currently finishing a doctoral degree in conducting from Arizona State University.

Archibald is also a fine vocalist who has done solos with the Jerusalem Symphony, Israel Chamber Orchestras, Utah Chamber Artists, Grand Theatre and Northern Utah Choral Society.

"SLCC's South City Jazz is a highly select vocal jazz ensemble that is devoted to performing contemporary music of exceptional quality," said Lyle Archibald.

South City Jazz was named the "best of Utah" for 2003 in "Salt Lake City Weekly's" annual poll. In October of 2003 the choir participated in a cultural arts tour to Shanghai and Beijing, China.

Students had to raise all the money for the trip. When the choir performed a concert with SLCC's sister college, Shanghai University. Next stop was Beijing, where they sang and made contacts with the people. In China they sang Jazz Music, Chinese Folk Songs, and popular songs from today.

Members of the South City Jazz are asked to make a one year commitment to the group and must also be enrolled in the Concert Choir, which Archibald also directs. Auditions for the choir are the first week of Fall semester and experience in singing is required to be in the South City Jazz.

"The choir has great performers who are multitalented," said Archibald.

South City Jazz will perform a free year end concert April 12 at the Salt Lake City Library ( 209 E. 500 S.). They will be joined by SLCC's Jazz Band in an evening of vocals mixed with instruments. There will be Latin music like, "Chili Con Carne", "Acapala in Acapulco" and the classic American song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."

"We are going to have some fun with songs that we have done throughout the year," said Archibald.