Shenole Latimer Quartet Jazzes Up East Meadow Library

On Dec. 19, the Shenole Latimer Jazz Quartet brought the sound of modern jazz to the . 

Playing saxophone, Latimer was joined by three other talented musicians, Thomson Kneeland (bass), Kyle Struve (drums) and Art Hirahara (piano). The quartet spent the afternoon performing original compositions as well as iconic jazz standards, pleasing generations of jazz listeners. 

Latimer, who released the CD "Front and Center" in 2006, engaged with the audience from beginning to end of the concert. He stated that he last performed at the East Meadow Public Library two years ago, and he recognized some of the attendees from his last concert at today's concert. 

The afternoon began with some standard jazz pieces, including "Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise." The song, which tells of the story of love lost, has been covered by many icons such as jazz trumpeter Miles Davis and jazz saxophonist John Coltrane. Despite the melancholy nature of the song, the audience remained transfixed by the quartet's rendition of the haunting tune. 

The quartet paid further tribute to the works of Miles Davis by performing "On Green Dolphin Street." The song is from Davis' 1958 album now simply known as the "'58 Sessions." "On Green Dolphin Street" was an emotional piece, and one with which the audience was truly able to connect. 

Moving away from jazz standards, Latimer and his quartet then played some original compositions. They played the original piece "I'm Just Fine," and Latimer joked that he hoped the audience would be "just fine after hearing it." The song held an uplifting message for the audience, especially those who are struggling within this difficult economy- that we are all really going to be "just fine" eventually. 

For their next piece, Latimer announced they would be performing a song entitled "12 O'Clock Strut" from their upcoming album entitled "A Day In The Life Of..." Latimer said that he was inspired to write the song by the life of "the everyday nine-to-five worker who sits in a cubicle all day and looks forward to two things during the day: lunch and then going home... I'm sure that some of you in the audience can relate to that." 

Latimer added that the "12 O'Clock Strut" is the walk people do when they leave the cubicle at noon to go to lunch. The plight of the nine-to-five worker was captured was a tune that nearly everyone in the audience could relate to. The song garnered a heavy round of applause from the audience.