Thaddeus Jackson had his third and final Senior Recital on Sunday, Jan. 26. The event was attended by a mix of friends, family, and professors in Lehman Auditorium and on Zoom. After a brief opening speech from Doctor David Berry where he affirmed Jackson’s many talents, Jackson took the stage for his Classical Voice set. He was accompanied on piano by Harold Bailey as he sang “The Sky Above the Roof”, “The Vagabond”, “Arm, Arm Ye Brave”, “Lydia”, “Ici Bas”, and “Non Piu Andrai”. 

Before beginning his performance of “Lydia”, the entry to the French section of his set, Jackson explained what the song was about, “it is a song about a lover, describing his lover’s fluid gold hair, calling her a goddess, with no real sense of urgency or drama, it’s just a nice, simple, plain tune.” He also remarked, “French also happens to be not my favorite, but we’re here, we’re doing it anyways, it’s something I need to do more of.” After finishing Lydia, Jackson read the first verse of the poem used in “Ici Bas” to provide translation for the French song that followed. 

After a brief intermission, Jackson once again took the stage for a Jazz Piano Trio featuring himself singing and playing piano, Doctor Benjamin Guerrero on drums, and Michael Cseh on upright bass. Jackson introduced Cseh and Guerrero after their first song, “Softly As In A Morning Sunrise,” saying “Michael Cseh, on bass, one of the best bass players around here I believe. And Doctor Benjamin Guerrero on drums, also one of the best drummers, I believe.” 

The trio went on to play “One Note Samba,” “How High the Moon,” and “Dream A Little Dream Of Me.” For the final song, “La Vie En Rose,” Jackson said, “…a lot of the time, when I think about concerts, I think about ending it with a big bang, you know. But this time I really wanted to end it kind of soft, and intimate. Just to uh- just because. There was no other reason, other than I think that’s kind of how I want to end it. So, this is La Vie En Rose.” 

In his program, Jackson stated, “this recital is meant to be simple, a vocal setlist that is sincere and playful, and fun twists on some of my favorite standards, some of which I got to try my hand at arranging in a new way. I ask that you cherish the notes, embrace the mistakes, ride the spontaneity, and I hope you feel the passion.”