INDY'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTING ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

Art Clips: Faculty/Guest Potpourri

Three and a half stars 

Faculty Artist Series; Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center; Feb. 22.

Little did I know that during this concert I would be charmed by a bayan (Russian version of an accordion) and come to the conclusion that a miked bassoon quite simply rocks. This eclectic program featured University of Indianapolis faculty and guests, all displaying their instrumental skills, starting off with faculty member Marko Petricic on the bayan. Paul Berns, percussion, and Byron Plexico, viola, followed, playing Michael Colgrass’ Variations for Four Drums and Viola, a piece that, despite the instrumentalist’s grasp of the work, felt at times like it had little purpose. A few artists also displayed some of their compositional skills as well — Mark Ortwein’s Pepperoni Grande con Queso Mas was exciting, with Ortwein on his miked bassoon, and throughout the concert showed his versatility on other woodwind instruments. Faculty artist Peter Hansen, double bass, and guest Jon Crabiel, percussion, were the highlight of the show, proving themselves a dynamic duo on Glen Moore’s Spring Is Really Coming, with Hansen playing with ease in all registers, and Crabiel showcasing his taste and talent on percussion.